Yoshinobu’s Comments with Japanese Media Translated May 12, 2026

These are the Japanese media comments from May 12, 2026 after Yoshinobu’s start.

Summary in 3 lines:

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto said he was frustrated leaving the mound with runners on base, believing the game could have changed if he had finished the inning, though he felt his stuff was noticeably better than in his previous outing.
• He emphasized that the difference between success and failure was “paper-thin,” pointing to small mistakes like a cutter left over the plate and giving up homers to the bottom of the lineup, while stressing the need to return to pitching fundamentals.
• Yamamoto also said his mindset toward struggles has not changed since his days in Japan, praised Shohei Ohtani’s long-awaited home run for energizing the team, and added that physically he does not feel significantly affected by the WBC.

Reporter: 今日7回途中という結果になってしまったんですけどランナー1、3塁置いてしまって、降板ということで、この部分ご自身の中で振り替えて。

Translation: It ended up being an outing that finished in the 7th inning. You left with runners on first and third and were taken out—how do you reflect on that situation?

Yoshinobu: なんとか最後しっかり抑えたらまた試合展開も変わったと思いますけど結果的にあいった形でマウンド降りてしまったのですごく悔しく思います。

Translation: I think if I could have closed out that inning, the game may have developed differently. I feel regretful leaving the mound in that situation.

Reporter: ここ最近の登板、全体的に見ると投球内容とか特に悪くはないと思うんですけど

結果的に点を取られている。。。

Translation: Your outings lately, your stuff does not look bad but you seem to be giving up runs…

Yoshinobu: 今日のピッチングちょっとしたことだと思いますけどボールは前回と比べて良いボールはすごく増えたと思いますしまっ結果的にはすごく悪かったので本当にちょっとしたことだなとは思っていますまあこう登板を重ねるごとになんとかいいピッチングできるように頑張ります。

Translation: I think today’s results were a matter of a small difference and compared to the last outing I felt I threw better. The results were bad but there was only a slight difference. I think as I get more appearances I will work to improve my pitching.

Reporter: 前回もう少しあと少しのところでとりくんでるっていうことで？

Translation: You are working on the small details from last outing?

Yoshinobu: 今日はそこの点でいうとボールはすごく良くなったなと投げてても自信を持って投げていけるようなボールではありましたけどえーとまあ1本目はカットボールがちょっと甘くなったりまあ、どちらも8番、9番に打たれたホームランだったのでもうちょっとおほほなんていうんだろう意識して投球すればもっと結果を変わっていたかなと思いますしまあとにかくこうピッチングの基本の部分をより大切にまた取り組みたいと思います。

Translation: Today, I felt like my stuff was really a lot better. Even while pitching, I felt confident in the quality of my pitches. But on the first home run, the cutter caught a little too much of the plate, and both home runs came from the 8th and 9th hitters, so I think if I had been a little more aware and deliberate in my approach, the result could have been different. More than anything, I want to get back to valuing the fundamentals of pitching and continue working on those basics.

Reporter: 今回は悔しい結果だと思うんですけどメジャー3年目で、結果に対するとらえかたとかご自身のの中で。変わったかみたいなやつですただ単純に悔しいだけじゃなくて冷静に面積できるような自分がいたりとか？

Translation: I know this was a frustrating result, but now in your third year in the majors, has the way you process results changed at all within yourself? Rather than simply feeling frustrated, do you feel like you’re also able to calmly analyze and reflect on things more objectively?

Yoshinobu: そこは日本の時も今もそんな変わらないですね。

Translation: That is no different from when I was in Japan.

Reporter: 大谷選手久しぶりのホームランは出てましたけど。しばらくここをつらいけんほぐらんでてそういった人たちがいます状態も彼の雰囲気だったり？

Translation: Shohei hit a home run for the first time in a while today, but he had been going through a stretch without one for some time. From your perspective, how did he seem during that period — in terms of his condition or the atmosphere around him?

Yoshinobu: 今日ホームランが出てすごくチームが盛り上がりましたし、やっぱりみんなが静かに見守っていましたけどみんなが待ってた一本だったと思うのでチームにとってすごく良かったと思います。

Translation: Him hitting a homer really lifted the team, we all quietly supported him, it was a hit we anticipated so I think as a team it was great.

Reporter: だからこそ守りたかったいうのが？

Translation: That is why you wanted to protect the lead?

Yoshinobu: そうですねまあやっぱりリードしたら守るっていうのは当然のことなので、なんとか。なんとかリードして次の回次の回いけたら一番良かったですね。

Translation: Yes, definitely a lead is meant to be protected obviously. Would have liked to tack on the innings to back up the lead.

Reporter: 最後に４登板で防御率が5以上なってますけど去年の6月ちょっと難しかった時期がありましたけどそれに比べると今の状態はそれよりいいていうか？

Translation: Your last 4 outings your ERA is above 5, last year in June you had some difficulty, does this compare to then?

Yoshinobu: そうですね。数字よりかは感覚はいいかなと思いますし自分の中でもダメなところは明確に分かりますし、分かっていますし。今日のピッチングも負けたなので、あんまり言えないですけど本当に神一重な内容だったかなと思いますしはい、もう少しですね。

Translation: Yes, better than the numbers my feel is good. What I don’t have good I know clearly. Today was a loss but it is difficult to say, it feels like a paperthin difference. Yeah just a little off. 

Reporter: WBCがこのシーズンに影響しているという

Translation: Feeling the effects of the WBC?

Yoshinobu: そうですね体調よくここまでとにかくこれているのでそこはそんなに感じてないですけどとにかくチームが勝てるようにそういった投球できるように最善を尽くしてしっかり練習します。ありがとうございました。

Translation: Yes, I have done well to keep my condition until now. Everybody else doesn’t feel that, but I just want to help the team win. I want to pitch like that and do my best and prepare. Thanks