Hard-throwing Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he said in an Instagram post Friday.
The talented but injury-prone 23-year-old, who was posted by the Lotte Marines in December, chose the Dodgers after reportedly meeting with other Major League Baseball teams, including the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees.
His agent Joel Wolfe told reporters in December that 20 clubs had sent him documents outlining their interest in Sasaki.
File photo shows Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki waving to fans after the team’s final home game of the season on Oct. 3, 2024, at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba, near Tokyo. (Kyodo)
“I have decided to sign a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Sasaki said. “It was a tough decision. I’ll do my best and hope I’ll be able to think my decision was the right one after my career ends.”
“At an introductory press conference, I would like to put on a Dodgers jersey while thinking about everyone who has supported me.”
In accordance with MLB rules regarding the signing of international players under the age of 25, Sasaki is joining on a minor league contract.
He joins Japanese compatriots, two-way star Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who helped the Dodgers win the World Series last year in their first season with the team.
The Dodgers are scheduled to open their 2025 season with two games against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 18 and 19.
On April 10, 2022, Sasaki threw a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes, striking out 19 batters, including a record-breaking 13 in a row.
In his next start a week later, Sasaki threw eight perfect innings before being replaced by a reliever.
Sasaki, who added an effective slider in 2024 to his already impressive fastball and splitter, posted a career-high 10 wins against five losses with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games last year.
Lotte’s first-round pick in the 2019 draft has a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four seasons with the Marines.
Sasaki did not pitch in any official games in his first year as a pro and has never spent an entire season in the rotation due to various physical issues.
In March 2023, Sasaki, whose fastball has been clocked as high as 165 kilometers (102.5 miles) per hour, helped Japan win its third World Baseball Classic title.
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