WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - JAPAN VS CHINESE TAIPEI

March 7, 2026

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tokyo Dome

Team Japan

Postgame Press Conference

Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0

Q. Welcome back to Tokyo with the national team's uniform for the first time in three years. What is in your mind right now?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Yes, I am so pleased that I pitched in such a great big joy of playing for Team Japan. Right now I feel very good because we won.

Q. Let's talk about the pitching. You went 2-2 thirds without any home runs. How do you evaluate yourself?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: The first inning I did well. But after we scored a lot, I was trying to focus but I think that my comment is not as well as I was expecting, and I have little things that I have to fix for the future but overall we won tonight. That meant everything.

Q. As Skipper Ibata mentioned, did you pitch high paces in the last inning? Did you have stamina?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: In today's bullpen session two days ago, I have felt very good and my opening frame, I pitched great, so nothing to worry about.

Q. Team Japan scored 10 in the second inning, and by watching Shohei's Grand Slam, how did you feel about it?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Yes, this was our first game of the tournament, and to score the first one is always difficult especially for the opening game. And Shohei hit a huge home run to get momentum, so I just tip my cap.

Q. After the game was over, you made a line and Shohei pushed back and you were a leader and bowed for the crowd.

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Yes, I felt the atmosphere of the Tokyo Dome is great. The cheers gave us extra energy for us. Very thankful for the environment.

Q. Any thoughts for the next outing?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: I have a lot of things to fix and I look forward to better pitching, and also, I'm trying to focus to be in better condition.

Q. Your first inning, you threw 98.5, that was the fastest. Were you expecting about 50 pitches through the third inning? How did you feel about your velocity of the third inning?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: The last bullpen session that I had a couple days ago, I think my command and my fastball was great.

So while my condition is not the best condition, but at the beginning of the innings, the velocity of my fastball is better than I was expecting, faster than I was expecting. The condition went well. So I'm very pleased.

Q. You had a combo with Wakatsuki when you were with Orix. He's the guy behind the plate.

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Yes, it's been quite a while to pitch to him. So as a pitcher, I'm very happy. And not only my personal feeling, this is an international match and this is the WBC opening game, so that makes me more happy.

Q. Looking back at tonight's game, what's in your mind?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Well, it's just after the game so I didn't take a look at the game result, but overall, I feel very good.

Q. You just mentioned about your condition, and previously you traveled a long distance. How do you evaluate your previous condition with long-distance struggle?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Regarding my condition, I had a plan. I made a plan and it went well. And also to get rid of the jet lag feeling, it was all planned and I feel great.

As a pitcher to throw a ball, I would say about from yesterday, I felt great, better. I felt better from yesterday. So that could leave me to pitch well tonight.

Q. Your offensive guys scored a lot of runs, and they had a tea ceremony. By watching that, how did you feel about it?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Yes, making a tea ceremony moment made the team have a strong bonding. We scored a lot and they did a lot, so I'm very happy by watching that.

Q. You mentioned that you have little things to fix. Is it something regarding your mechanics, or is it something regarding your mental?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Yeah, overall, while I don't have major problems, but during the games, some comment and some breaking balls, a couple pitches, I just missed. So these are the things I'd like to fix for the next game.