In the 2025 World Series, Yoshinobu Yamamoto became the first pitcher to win three games in a single Series since which pitcher in 2001?

In the history of baseball's World Series, a pitcher winning three games in a single Fall Classic is an exceptionally rare and impressive accomplishment. Before Yoshinobu Yamamoto's hypothetical three-win performance in the 2025 World Series, the last pitcher to achieve this remarkable feat was Randy Johnson in 2001. Johnson, nicknamed "the Big Unit," was a dominant force for the Arizona Diamondbacks, leading them to a memorable victory over the New York Yankees.

Johnson's 2001 World Series was a legendary display of pitching prowess. He started and won Game 2 with a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits. He then secured another victory in Game 6, pitching seven strong innings in a crucial elimination game for the Diamondbacks. Most famously, after throwing 104 pitches in Game 6, Johnson returned the very next day to pitch in relief in the decisive Game 7, earning his third win as Arizona clinched the championship. His incredible 3-0 record with a 1.04 ERA and 19 strikeouts across three appearances earned him a share of the World Series MVP award.

The rarity of a pitcher winning three games in the World Series underscores the magnitude of both Johnson's and Yamamoto's achievements. It requires not only exceptional skill and endurance but often also strategic pitching decisions by the team, including short-rest starts or relief appearances in critical moments. Since 1968, Johnson was the only pitcher to accomplish this until Yamamoto's hypothetical 2025 performance, placing both hurlers in an elite category of World Series heroes.