Confident Yankees reserves No. 18 for Yamamoto
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees’ admiration for Japanese standout starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is genuine, and they have been preparing for his potential arrival for the past year. As reported by SNY’s Andy Martino, the Yankees have held aside his preferred jersey number, 18, since the beginning of the 2023 season.
According to the report, No. 18 has been Yamamoto’s jersey number with the Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes and holds significance as the “ace” number in Japan.
Martino mentioned that the Yankees refrained from assigning No. 18 to any of their players last season; it was worn by outfielder Andrew Benintendi in 2022. Having scouted Yamamoto for at least the past year, the Yankees are considered strong contenders to secure his services. The Yankees are envisioning a formidable 1-2 pitching duo with Yamamoto complementing Gerrit Cole.
Yankees remain focused on Yamamoto
Yamamoto, at the age of 25, is anticipated to secure a lucrative, long-term deal surpassing $200 million, in addition to the posting fee. This right-handed power pitcher, a three-time recipient of the Japanese Cy Young equivalent, boasts an impressive career with the Orix Buffaloes, holding a remarkable 1.72 ERA over seven seasons. In the last season, his dominance continued, with a stellar 1.21 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and an impressive 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings across 171 frames.
It’s noteworthy that the iconic No. 18 jersey, worn by former Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda throughout his professional baseball career, including his tenure with the Yankees from 2012-2014, holds significance. Another Japanese pitcher, Masahiro Tanaka, chose to wear No. 19 as a gesture of respect to Kuroda during their overlapping time on the team for one season.
Yamamoto’s posting occurred at the end of November, and his 45-day signing window commenced on Nov. 21. He holds the opportunity to sign a deal with a major league team until Jan. 4 at 5 p.m. ET. As reported by Martino, Yamamoto is actively participating in phone calls and Zoom meetings and is expected to attend in-person meetings during the Winter Meetings from Dec. 4-7.
However, the Yankees have to compete with the Mets to secure Yamamoto.
| Yankees Who Wore No 18 | Year | |
| Wilcy Moore | 1929 New York Yankees | |
| Bill Henderson | 1930 New York Yankees | |
| Lou McEvoy | 1930 New York Yankees | |
| Tom Zachary | 1930 New York Yankees | |
| Red Ruffing | 1931 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Allen | 1932 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Allen | 1933 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Allen | 1934 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Allen | 1935 New York Yankees | |
| Art Jorgens | 1936 New York Yankees | |
| Art Jorgens | 1937 New York Yankees | |
| Art Jorgens | 1938 New York Yankees | |
| Art Jorgens | 1939 New York Yankees | |
| Steve Peek | 1941 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Lindell | 1942 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Lindell | 1943 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Johnson | 1944 New York Yankees | |
| Tuck Stainback | 1945 New York Yankees | |
| Karl Drews | 1946 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Gumpert | 1946 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Gumpert | 1947 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Gumpert | 1948 New York Yankees | |
| Bob Porterfield | 1948 New York Yankees | |
| Fenton Mole | 1949 New York Yankees | |
| Bob Porterfield | 1949 New York Yankees | |
| Dave Madison | 1950 New York Yankees | |
| Bob Porterfield | 1950 New York Yankees | |
| Jack Kramer | 1951 New York Yankees | |
| Bob Muncrief | 1951 New York Yankees | |
| Jim McDonald | 1952 New York Yankees | |
| Ray Scarborough | 1952 New York Yankees | |
| Jim McDonald | 1953 New York Yankees | |
| Jim McDonald | 1954 New York Yankees | |
| Don Larsen | 1955 New York Yankees | |
| Don Larsen | 1956 New York Yankees | |
| Don Larsen | 1957 New York Yankees | |
| Don Larsen | 1958 New York Yankees | |
| Don Larsen | 1959 New York Yankees | |
| Eli Grba | 1960 New York Yankees | |
| Fred Kipp | 1960 New York Yankees | |
| Hal Reniff | 1961 New York Yankees | |
| Hal Reniff | 1962 New York Yankees | |
| Hal Reniff | 1963 New York Yankees | |
| Hal Reniff | 1964 New York Yankees | |
| Hal Reniff | 1965 New York Yankees | |
| Hal Reniff | 1966 New York Yankees | |
| Steve Barber | 1967 New York Yankees | |
| Hal Reniff | 1967 New York Yankees | |
| Steve Barber | 1968 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Kekich | 1969 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Kekich | 1970 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Kekich | 1971 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Kekich | 1972 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Hegan | 1973 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Kekich | 1973 New York Yankees | |
| Dave Pagan | 1973 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Hegan | 1974 New York Yankees | |
| Larry Murray | 1974 New York Yankees | |
| Dave Bergman | 1975 New York Yankees | |
| Larry Murray | 1975 New York Yankees | |
| Ellie Hendricks | 1976 New York Yankees | |
| Tippy Martinez | 1976 New York Yankees | |
| Ellie Hendricks | 1977 New York Yankees | |
| Dennis Sherrill | 1978 New York Yankees | |
| Brian Doyle | 1979 New York Yankees | |
| Brian Doyle | 1980 New York Yankees | |
| Larry Milbourne | 1981 New York Yankees | |
| Larry Milbourne | 1982 New York Yankees | |
| Mike Patterson | 1982 New York Yankees | |
| Andre Robertson | 1982 New York Yankees | |
| Rodney Scott | 1982 New York Yankees | |
| Andre Robertson | 1983 New York Yankees | |
| Andre Robertson | 1984 New York Yankees | |
| Andre Robertson | 1985 New York Yankees | |
| Claudell Washington | 1986 New York Yankees | |
| Claudell Washington | 1987 New York Yankees | |
| Claudell Washington | 1988 New York Yankees | |
| Jamie Quirk | 1989 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Velarde | 1989 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Velarde | 1990 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Velarde | 1991 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Velarde | 1992 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Velarde | 1993 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Velarde | 1994 New York Yankees | |
| Randy Velarde | 1995 New York Yankees | |
| Mariano Duncan | 1996 New York Yankees | |
| Mariano Duncan | 1997 New York Yankees | |
| Andy Fox | 1997 New York Yankees | |
| Scott Brosius | 1998 New York Yankees | |
| Scott Brosius | 1999 New York Yankees | |
| Scott Brosius | 2000 New York Yankees | |
| Scott Brosius | 2001 New York Yankees | |
| Marcus Thames | 2002 New York Yankees | |
| Jeff Weaver | 2002 New York Yankees | |
| Jeff Weaver | 2003 New York Yankees | |
| Homer Bush | 2004 New York Yankees | |
| John Olerud | 2004 New York Yankees | |
| Bubba Crosby | 2005 New York Yankees | |
| Andy Phillips | 2005 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Damon | 2006 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Damon | 2007 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Damon | 2008 New York Yankees | |
| Johnny Damon | 2009 New York Yankees | |
| Chad Moeller | 2010 New York Yankees | |
| Andruw Jones | 2011 New York Yankees | |
| Hiroki Kuroda | 2012 New York Yankees | |
| Hiroki Kuroda | 2013 New York Yankees | |
| Hiroki Kuroda | 2014 New York Yankees | |
| Didi Gregorius | 2015 New York Yankees | |
| Didi Gregorius | 2016 New York Yankees | |
| Didi Gregorius | 2017 New York Yankees | |
| Didi Gregorius | 2018 New York Yankees | |
| Didi Gregorius | 2019 New York Yankees | |
| Rougned Odor | 2021 New York Yankees | |
| Andrew Benintendi | 2022 New York Yankee |
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