Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitching sensation from Japan, has announced on Instagram that he is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that Sasaki will receive $6.5 million as part of the deal.
As one of the top free agents of the offseason, Sasaki attracted significant interest, with the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Diego Padres emerging as the finalists. Other teams, including the New York Yankees, Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants, also expressed interest but did not make it to the final round.
Speaking about his decision, Sasaki said, “It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best to make it the right decision when I look back after my baseball career.”
Sasaki becomes the third major Japanese star to join the Dodgers in the last two seasons, following Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, the National League MVP. His arrival strengthens an already formidable Dodgers pitching lineup, which includes Ohtani, Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Bobby Miller.
Known for his 102.5 mph fastball, Sasaki also throws a splitter, curveball, and slider. His standout performance came on April 10, 2022, when he pitched a perfect game, setting Nippon Professional Baseball records for 19 strikeouts in a game and 13 consecutive strikeouts.
Selected first overall in the 2019 NPB Draft by the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki debuted in 2020. Over his NPB career, he amassed a 29-15 record, a 2.10 ERA, and 505 strikeouts.
Born in 2001, Sasaki faced personal tragedy after losing his father and grandparents in the 2011 Japanese tsunami. He, his mother, and his brothers lived in a nursing home during the recovery period. In high school, he broke the Japanese record for pitch velocity, previously held by Ohtani.
With Sasaki’s addition, the Dodgers are poised to field one of the most talented rosters in baseball history. They secured the World Series title last season by defeating the New York Yankees in five games, overcoming a 5-0 deficit in the Final match.
