After an unforgettable World Series and an all-time classic Game 7, there was no doubt as to who was the most valuable player. Yoshinobu Yamamoto took home World Series MVP honors with a historic performance, becoming the 14th pitcher in history credited with three wins in a single Fall Classic. He started and won Games 2 and 6, and against all odds, entered in relief in Game 7 Saturday night to finish off the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Wins World Series MVP
Yamamoto shone for the entire month of October, with the Dodgers winning four of his five postseason starts and five of his six appearances. He carved up the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, throwing a complete game of one-run ball in a 5-1 Game 1 victory. He did the exact same thing in Game 2 against the Blue Jays, another 5-1 win to even the Series heading back to LA. After the Blue Jays won two of three at Dodger Stadium to put them within one win of a title, Yamamoto got the ball in a must-win Game 6. While he didn’t have the stamina he did in his prior two outings, he gave the Dodgers six strong innings, again only allowing one run. The Dodgers then went on to win 4-1, forcing a decisive Game 7.
He started Game 6, then he finished Game 7 ?
YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO IS THE #WORLDSERIES MVP! pic.twitter.com/3ZFUaDCF8k
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 2, 2025
Game Seven
It turned out that pulling Yamamoto after six innings on Friday was the right call on the part of manager Dave Roberts. The second-year Japanese righty volunteered his services in Game 7 if necessary. His time came with one out in the ninth inning, when Roberts turned to him with two men on. With both teams’ destinies hanging in the balance, Yamamoto hit Alejandro Kirk with his second pitch to load the bases.
Then, in a play that may well go down in history, Daulton Varsho hit a chopper to Miguel Rojas, whose unlikely home run in the top of the ninth had tied the game 4-4. Rojas stumbled back to field it, but kept his composure and threw home. Catcher Will Smith‘s cleat briefly came off the plate, but he got it back on just in time to retire pinch runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The play was upheld on review. Andy Pages made a game-saving catch in center field on a deep fly from Ernie Clement, despite running into Enrique Hernández. Game 7 would head to extra innings.
After the Dodgers left the bases loaded in the top of the 10th, Yamamoto retired the Blue Jays in order in the bottom of the frame. Smith put Los Angeles up with a solo homer in the top of the 11th, and Roberts stuck with Yamamoto, trusting him to hold the lead. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a leadoff double, and IKF laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put him at third. After Addison Barger walked, Yamamoto got Kirk to ground into a double play to win the Dodgers their second straight World Series title, the first team to repeat since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.
The Last Word (from Dave Roberts)
Shortly before Yamamoto was presented the Willie Mays World Series MVP trophy, a foregone conclusion, Roberts shouted into the mic, “YAMAMOTO’S THE GOAT!” In this Fall Classic, he certainly was.
Main Photo Credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
