Roki Sasaki and Jack Dreyer became the first Los Angeles Dodgers rookies to wear an MLB debut patch on their jersey for the 2025 season when each pitched during the Tokyo Series.
Since the beginning of a partnership between MLB, the Players Association (MLBPA), Fanatics Collectibles and Topps in 2023, players who make their MLB debut have a commemorative jersey patch on their sleeve. It is then authenticated for use in subsequent Topps products.
Sasaki and Dreyer made their respective MLB debuts in Wednesday’s game at the Tokyo Dome, which saw the Dodgers hang on for a 6-3 win against the Chicago Cubs.
Sasaki pitched just three innings, holding the Cubs to one run in the process despite walking five batters. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning behind back-to-back strikeouts that helped limit the damage.
“I thought we did a pretty good job. He got himself in trouble with some walks, but we were missing kind of a big hit all night. We did put pressure on him, that we needed to, but he made pitches. Especially in the third inning when we had bases loaded and one out,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the game.
“There was a real opportunity there just to get him out of the game. The next hit might get him out of the game, and he made pitches there. So give him credit. We made him throw strikes, and he struggled a little bit with that. The stuff is really good, but I thought we did a good job of executing our game plan there.”
Dreyer entered in the fifth inning and allowed one run as well. He likely would’ve had a clean debut but couldn’t field a comebacker that resulted in an infield single and eventually led to the Cubs pushing a run across.
Dodgers rookies with MLB debut patch
Michael Busch was the first Dodgers rookie to receive the special jersey patch under the partnership. He has since been joined by Bryan Hudson, Nick Robertson, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Ricky Vanasco, Landon Knack, Andy Pages, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, River Ryan, Ben Casparius, and now Sasaki and Dreyer.
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