The Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed a wildly successful offseason that included the signing of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. The right-hander was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines this past December and immediately became one of the most coveted free agents.
After meeting with several teams, Sasaki decided to join the Dodgers on a Minor League contract. He was limited to a $6.5 million signing bonus due to MLB’s rules for amateur international free agents, and reportedly turned down larger offers from other clubs.
Sasaki signing with the Dodgers reunited him with fellow countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The three also teamed up together on the Japan roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Yamamoto helped recruit Sasaki to the Dodgers and said he is thrilled to call him a teammate again, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“I’m very happy to have him on the same team with us,” Yamamoto said of Sasaki, a former teammate on Japan’s 2023 World Baseball Classic squad whom Yamamoto helped recruit this winter.
Sasaki will have an adjustment period in the Majors, just like any other player coming from a different league. However, he will have Ohtani and Yamamoto to fall back on for guidance, which should help make the transition smoother.
Sasaki is considered one of the greatest pitchers to come out of Japan and has a chance to make his MLB debut in the country during the Tokyo Series next month.
Sasaki went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 111 innings for the Marines last year. He finished his career in Japan with a 30-15 record, 2.02 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across four seasons.
Expectations couldn’t be higher for Sasaki in his first season with the Dodgers as several MLB executives predicted that he will win National League Rookie of the Year honors.
Roki Sasaki gave gifts to Miguel Rojas
When Sasaki signed with the Dodgers, it was accompanied by the news that Miguel Rojas would be changing jersey numbers for the 2025 season.
Rojas, who wore No. 11 in each of the last three years, has gone back to No. 72 for the first time since his rookie season. Sasaki takes over the No. 11 with the Dodgers, which is what his idol Yu Darvish has worn for the majority of his MLB career.
Sasaki gave gifts to Rojas for switching his number, including three bottles of Japanese sake.
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