The intrigue surrounding Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s notebook reflects his meticulous preparation style. This habit adds a layer of professionalism that bolsters his reputation as a high-IQ pitcher in the MLB market.
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Will Smith reveals what he knows about Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s viral notebook
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto at a press conference, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a baseball in front of an MLB logo display The details of what's inside Yoshinobu Yamamoto's notebook are a mystery. And it appears it'll stay that way. As Yamamoto prepares to take the mound in Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday, his catcher, Will Smith, revealed that he doesn't even know what's inside it. "We're talking constantly, so it's probably the same stuff," Smith said. Another reporter immediately followed up with Smith, asking if he ever writes, "I smoked this guy," after striking them out, to which Smith shrugged it off with a laugh and said, "No." Since Yamamoto joined the Dodgers two years ago, he's regularly been spotted writing in his notebook and taking notes in between innings. According to former professional pitcher Robby Rowland, the reason Yamamoto writes in a notebook instead of utilizing an iPad is that he has drawings of the strike zone. Rowland believes that inside the drawings, he features pitches that are circled with different numbers – which could indicate which pitches batters swung at. He also added that writing down the pitches in the notebook helps more with his memory than utilizing modern technology. The details of what's inside Yoshinobu Yamamoto's notebook are a mystery. AP Photo/Kyla Wolf
October 12, 2026Yahoo Sports
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