Jordan Yamamoto shuts down Cardinals in MLB debut

After a season and a half, the Christian Yelich trade looked like a one-sided landslide in favor of the Milwaukee Brewers. He won the National League MVP last season and in his first career playoff appearance, the Brewers were a game away from the World Series.

The Marlins received Lewis Brinson, Jordan Yamamoto, Monte Harrison and Isan Diaz for Yelich and prior to this week, only Brinson made it to the big leagues and was recently sent down after batting below .200.

However, there’s newfound hope that the trade return will indeed bare fruit. Yamamoto made his MLB debut on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals and their ace, Jupiter native Miles Mikolas. After seven innings, the Hawaii native has his first career RBI before his first earned run. His shutdown performance helped snap the Marlins six game losing streak and gave them a dominating 9-0 win.

“At first I was really nervous,” Yamamoto said. “I’ve been sweating all day. But once I got the first guy out, I kind of calmed down.”

Yamamoto threw 95 pitches and topped out at only 93 mph but struck out five batters through changing speeds and covering the strike zone.

“He’s a fun guy to watch,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I’m sure if he goes to a tryout, the scouts are looking at this guy and you’re probably not signing him. But he can add and subtract. He’ll throw his fastball at 86, and at 92. He just mixes and mixes. He’s unpredictable.”

From the other side, the Cardinals lineup included fellow Hawaiian Kolten Wong, whom Yamamoto struck out to end the second inning. It was Yamamoto’s first career strikeout the PA system at Marlins Park played the theme from “Hawaii Five-0.” His jersey number being No. 50 was a nice touch.

“Congratulations to Jordan,” Wong said. “I’m really proud of him. He kept his composure all night.”

His first career victory was practically assured thanks to first baseman Garrett Cooper. He hit a triple in the first inning and scored the first run of the game and hit a grand slam in the second inning to make it a 5-0 game.

Cooper got a single in his third plate appearance but struck out in his last two at-bats and fell short of a double of a cycle.

“I’m not going to lie, I was looking for that double,” Cooper said with a chuckle. “I swung a little too hard the last couple of times.”

The Marlins are continuing to deal with injuries. Yamamoto got his start because Jose Urena, who was the Opening Day starter, went to the 10-day injured list due to a lower back strain. The day after, corner infielder Martin Prado left the game with a tight right hamstring and is going to the 10-day IL. Peter O’Brien is also still in the IL with a bruised rib but is progressing well and should received his minor league assignment in the near future. Jon Berti was placed on the IL due to an oblique strain on May 21 but took infield drills and batting practice during the series.

A call-up from the minor leagues can be expected over the off day on Thursday in time for the weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.