Just recently, the Dodgers released new merchandise highlighting LA’s most beloved pitcher Yamamoto Yoshinobu. After winning the 2025 World Series against the Blue Jays, the Dodgers gave Yamamoto the MVP title for pulling them through tough games with strong and consistent pitches that struck out batter after batter. Since then, Yamamoto’s gained a lot of popularity and he continues to make LA proud.
After such an amazing performance last year, the Dodgers honored his capabilities by making a limited edition bobble-head figure of Yoshi, an iconic character from the Super Mario franchise. They’re giving out these figures on March 31 when the Dodgers go up against the Cleveland Giants to the first 40,000 fans who enter the stadium.
Yamamoto’s fans are thrilled seeing one of their favorite characters dressed up in a dodger jersey. Not only does this promote one of the Dodgers’ star players, but it’s also meant to be a collaboration with the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy movie.
The Dodgers have done similar collaborations with other well known franchises both in and outside of the US, such as Chiikawa, Hello Kitty, and Snoopy, and it’s certainly drawn in a lot of fans of all ages.
“I love when the Dodgers release merch featuring my favorite characters… I also really like when characters throw the first pitch at games,” Maria Sanchez, a Dodger merch collector, said.
It’s agreed upon by many that collaborations definitely draw in new audiences who may not even be from California or even the US! Fans come from all over the world, especially Japan, to Dodger Stadium to support LA due to their support and adoration for Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
“No one does these things like the Dodgers… That’s California love man,” Julina Vasquez, a loyal Dodger fan for over ten years, said.
This adorable figure is definitely gaining a lot of attraction, and bringing new communities to the Dodgers is exactly what promotion and Dodger spirit is all about. The traditional bobble heads and the bobble head night events are fairly popular themselves and this only makes things better!
