Yoshinobu Yamamoto has had a dream start to his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 27-year-old Japanese right-hander has already earned two World Series titles to open up his 12-year, $325 million contract, and he played a huge role this time around.
Yamamoto won World Series MVP and picked up three wins in the Fall Classic, including a complete game and the closing out of Game 7 for Los Angeles in a thrilling extra-innings clincher.
Across the postseason, Yamamoto somehow elevated his play from the regular season, which had already earned him his first All-Star selection and a third-place finish in NL Cy Young voting.
In six postseason appearances in 2025, Yamamoto posted a 1.45 ERA, a 5–1 record, two complete games and 33 strikeouts.
As Yamamoto enters another offseason following another championship run, the Dodgers’ ace took to social media to share a personal update. He revealed that he adopted a dog during August of last year.
“Meet Carlos. I met him at a dog shelter last August, and the video is from the first time I saw him. He’s gentle and loves a slow life. He loves naps, walks and eating good food. I’m really happy mi Carlitos is with me now🐾,” Yamamoto wrote on Instagram.
He included a slideshow with pictures of himself and Carlos, along with candid shots of the dog. Yamamoto is not the only Japanese Dodgers star in Los Angeles with a well-known pet.
Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani’s dog, Decoy, has continued to make waves across MLB and has made several public appearances. It is unknown if Carlos will also be featured alongside Yamamoto in future appearances.
With ten years left on his deal, Yamamoto is expected to lead the Dodgers’ rotation well into the next decade. His sights have already shifted to helping Los Angeles pursue a three-peat in 2026.
The organization has built around his presence, pairing him with Ohtani, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow to maintain championship-level depth.
Yamamoto’s durability this year and postseason poise have made him the anchor of a staff that blends star power with versatility. As spring training approaches, all eyes will be on how the Dodgers manage his workload while keeping him fresh for another October run.
Related: Dodgers Lose Two Players From Organization Amid MLB Free Agency
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
