Ed Odeven 
Former Chiba Lotte Marines starter Roki Sasaki had a 29-15 win-loss record with a 2.10 ERA in his four NPB seasons. (©SANKEI)
Read the full story on SportsLook - [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Pitching Sensation Roki Sasaki to Join the Dodgers
Roki Sasaki is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers after a whirlwind stretch of weeks meeting with MLB team executives and contemplating his future.
The 23-year-old pitcher made his intentions known in an Instagram post on Friday, January 17, a decision instantly celebrated by Dodgers fans on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
In his message, Sasaki, who has more than 1 million followers on Instagram, posted a Dodgers hat next to his written announcement, giving it a promotional vibe. He informed the world that he's decided to sign a minor league contract with the Dodgers.
"It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best," Sasaki wrote in Japanese. "I can feel this was a correct decision, once I look back on my life as a baseball player. At my news conference for joining the club, I hope to wear my Dodgers uniform, feeling gratitude for all those who have supported me."
MLB imposed a January 23 deadline for the two-time NPB All-Star to sign a contract during the 45-day posting period.
Roki Sasaki Ignited a Signing Frenzy
The Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays were the finalists in the spirited quest to sign Sasaki, who is classified as an international amateur under MLB's rules because he is under 25 years old. Therefore, he cannot sign a standard MLB contract yet.
Sasaki will receive a signing bonus of $6.5 million USD (¥1 billion JPY) when his contract with the Dodgers is finalized, according to The Athletic. He will also receive a six-year rookie contract.
Twenty MLB clubs submitted paperwork to highlight their desire to sign Sasaki, according to his agent Joel Wolfe, multiple media outlets reported.
Sasaki, who starred for NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines from 2021-24, brings his pitching talents to the defending World Series champions, whose pitching staff includes Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani signed a 10-year deal with the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season and Yamamoto inked a 12-year deal before the past season began.
Career Achievements for Roki Sasaki
Most notably, Roki Sasaki tossed a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in April 2022, fanning 19 batters.
Sasaki had a 29-15 win-loss record in four NPB seasons with a 2.10 ERA. In 394⅔ innings, he struck out 505 batters. He walked only 88 batters and allowed 265 hits.
In 2024, "the Monster of the Reiwa Era" was 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 starts. He fanned 129 batters in 111 innings.
The Iwate Prefecture native has an explosive fastball that's been clocked exceeding 100 mph (161 kph). But durability has been the biggest concern for Sasaki, who made a career-high 20 starts in 2022 and was injury-prone during his time with the Marines.
That said, Sasaki's overall pitching talent is at the elite level, an international scouting director told MLB.com.
"In my opinion, he's a top-end starter," the international scouting director was quoted as saying by MLB.com. "I wouldn't say he's Ohtani, but from a pitching standpoint, it's very comparative. I've been seeing him since he was 19, and saw him on the national team. It's an explosive arm."
The View from Los Angeles
Dylan Hernandez, a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times, is convinced that Roki Sasaki is "the most talented pitcher Japan ever produced."
Reacting to Sasaki's announcement, Hernandez penned a column that included his thoughts on what may have been the biggest reason Sasaki chose the Dodgers.
"Being the most talented pitcher from his country doesn't mean Sasaki is the best, only that he has a chance to be the best," Hernandez wrote. "Sasaki is aware of that, and he presumably chose to sign with the Dodgers because he figured they could help him realize his declared ambition of becoming the best player in the world."
Wolfe, Sasaki's agent, also supported the view that his client places a premium on his development as a pitcher.
"I believe Roki is also very interested in pitching development and how a team is going to help him get better, both in the near future and over the course of his career," Wolfe told the Los Angeles Times.
Continue reading the full story, which includes news items on tennis, volleyball and more, on SportsLook.
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- [ODDS and EVENS] Roki Sasaki's Perfect Game Provided Exciting Display of His Pitching Prowess
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
