Dodgers News: Yoshi Inspires Young Readers at LA Reads Storytime Event

LA CRESCENTA, CA — It was a day to remember at Dunsmore Elementary School in La Crescenta as Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto stepped away from the mound and into the hearts of over 200 children. The second-year pitcher was the featured guest for a dual-immersion LA Reads Storytime event on Tuesday, reading to students and answering questions — all in Japanese.

Excited kids in white LA Reads T-shirts sat cross-legged on the floor of the school’s multi-purpose room, while one pigtailed girl stood out in Dodger blue, proudly sporting the number 18 on her back — Yamamoto’s number. As soon as the doors opened and Yamamoto appeared, a wave of cheers filled the room.

The event, organized in partnership by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and the Dodgers’ Government Affairs & Community Relations team, highlights the team’s ongoing commitment to literacy and community engagement. Yamamoto, participating in his second LA Reads Storytime, chose to read Hayao Miyazaki, a children’s biography about the legendary Japanese animator — a fitting choice for a day centered on creativity and dreams.

The pitcher read first to a group of 102 kindergarten through second-grade students before hosting a second Q&A session with 148 more students. All the questions were asked — and answered — in Japanese, making the moment especially resonant for students in the school’s dual-immersion program.

When asked what he misses most about Japan, Yamamoto replied simply, “My friends.” He also admitted he still gets nervous before games, adding, “In order to overcome the nervousness, I practice regularly to build up my confidence.”

The questions ranged from the practical to the playful. One girl asked who his best friends were on the team, to which Yamamoto smiled and said, “Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki.” Another student asked if he had a celebration dance — he laughed and confessed he didn’t. His advice for kids with dreams of playing in the Major Leagues was straightforward but heartfelt: “Don’t forget the enjoyment and fun of baseball.”

LA Reads, launched in 2017, addresses the literacy crisis in Los Angeles by encouraging children to read and build a lifelong love for books. The program has distributed more than 30,000 books and features Storytimes with players, coaches, and broadcasters, as well as partnerships with local libraries and nonprofit literacy organizations. It also includes the Dodgers Reading Champions challenge, which motivates students from kindergarten through eighth grade to read at least 30 minutes a day.

The program goes beyond the classroom too. LA Reads invests in refurbishing literacy corners at after-school centers and libraries, providing updated furniture, colorful spaces, and shelves of age-appropriate books to make reading a joyful experience.

“We created a program called LA Reads that is to ignite the excitement of reading in all of you,” LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman told the assembled children. When she asked how many were Dodgers fans, all hands went up. When she asked who loved to read — the hands stayed up.

For Yamamoto, the experience was clearly meaningful. “I’m very thankful to have been given this opportunity,” he said. “I think it was great to see (a) Japanese (player) come here to inspire them to become successful.”

It was a special morning that combined language, culture, baseball, and books — and one that left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!