Is Japan's pitching prodigy Yoshinobu Yamamoto destined to dominate Major League Baseball?

Watch out, baseball fans! Japan's up-and-coming star is about to make a big move.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a remarkable pitcher, is all set to transition to Major League Baseball (MLB) in the upcoming offseason. The Orix Buffaloes of Japan have posted him as a free agent, marking a significant development on Monday.

The 25-year-old is expected to attract the attention of the leagues biggest franchises and could receive a highly-lucrative contract worth around $200m, per Reuters.

Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels.

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A bidding war is expected to get underway on Tuesday and will run until January 4.

Yamamoto has made a strong impression in his early career, earning the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award three times. In the most recent season, he had an impressive record of 16-6 with a remarkable 1.21 ERA. His exceptional performance also earned him his third consecutive Triple Crown in the NPB's Pacific League, leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.

The right-handed pitcher possesses a fastball that consistently reaches the mid-to-high 90s, and he has achieved notable success on the global level. He played a key role in his country's gold medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics and also helped secure the World Baseball Classic title in March.

In baseball, it is exceptionally uncommon to find a free agent of his caliber and age. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and the LA Dodgers are among the teams reportedly expressing interest, as per The Athletic.

Yamamoto is set to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and current star Shohei Ohtani who have made the switch from Japan to the MLB.