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Paul Skenes’ Recent Japan Visit Exposes Just How Much He Looks Up to the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani & Yamamoto

Back in April 2018, a 15-year-old Paul Skenes watched Shohei Ohtani make his pitching debut at Angel Stadium from the stands. 6 years later, Skenes, now a Cy Young Award winner, is taking notes from Ohtani and the Dodgers ace…

By Srijanee Chakraborty · Essentially Sports

Published: Thursday, 5 November 2026 at 4:06 AM

Key Things to Know

Paul Skenes visited Japan to adopt training and recovery habits modeled after Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Skenes purchased custom bedding from Nishikawa, the same company that designs sleep setups for Ohtani.
The Pirates pitcher praised Yamamoto as a premier example of pitch synergy and meticulous preparation.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes visited Japan to adopt recovery and pitching methods inspired by Los Angeles Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. During his trip, Skenes visited Nishikawa in Tokyo to undergo a full-body assessment and obtain custom bedding, mirroring Ohtani's recovery routine.

Skenes sought ways to rebound following a challenging season that saw his ERA rise to 3.82 and his fastball velocity decline. He praised Yamamoto's meticulous routines and pitching mechanics, citing the Japanese right-hander as a prime model for pitch synergy and efficiency.

Read the full article on Essentially Sports