Roki Sasaki is a rising pitching star from Japan, poised to make his mark in Major League Baseball by 2025.
Sasaki has gained attention for his remarkable fastball, which has exceeded 102 mph in Japan and reached 101.9 mph during the World Baseball Classic. In that tournament, he consistently threw at 100.5 mph, showcasing his lethal splitter that left batters swinging and missing. He played alongside notable players like Yamamoto and Ohtani when Samurai Japan clinched victory in the 2023 tournament, sparking speculation about a potential reunion in Los Angeles next year. The Los Angeles Dodgers have shown interest in Sasaki for several seasons.
Unlike the pursuit of Yamamoto, Sasaki’s availability is expected to attract interest from all 30 MLB teams, especially due to the financial limits on his contract.
Sasaki has openly expressed his ambition to pitch in the majors. Although his request was denied last year, his Japanese team has recently indicated a willingness to accommodate their young star’s aspirations, as outlined in a statement released on social media platform X.
After achieving a perfect game two years ago, Sasaki continued his impressive performance with eight consecutive perfect innings. In 2022, he recorded 173 strikeouts over 129.1 innings, and he improved his strikeout rate the following year, with 135 strikeouts in just 91 innings.
While Yamamoto consistently pitched over 170 innings per season, Sasaki has yet to reach 130 innings in a single year. This season, he faced arm issues that limited him to 111 innings, which likely affected his velocity and performance. Despite this, he maintained a solid 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 4.03 K/BB ratio, though these figures were lower than his remarkable 1.78 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 7.94 K/BB from the previous season.
Sasaki remains one of the most compelling pitchers available this winter. Following his posting, all 30 MLB teams will have a 45-day window to negotiate with him. Once he signs, he will be subject to the same rules and team control as any other rookie.
It is still uncertain whether Sasaki will be posted before the 2024 signing period concludes on December 15 or at the start of the 2025 signing period on January 15. When he does become available, he will join prominent pitchers like Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, and Max Fried as highly sought-after talents in the market.
Unlike those established aces, Sasaki represents an opportunity for teams looking for a high-impact pitcher without the hefty price tag.
