The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed their newest talent acquisition on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, officially introducing Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as a member of the team. Following remarks from Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Sasaki introduced himself through an interpreter and fielded questions from the media for the first time as a Dodger.
The main topic of discussion was the influence of fellow Japanese Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Sasaki’s decision. Ohtani recently completed a remarkable MVP season that culminated in his first World Series win with the Dodgers, while Yamamoto had a strong rookie year with a noteworthy bounce-back from injury to claim a victory in Game 2 of the World Series.
Despite their success and similar transitions from Japanese baseball to MLB, Sasaki revealed that Ohtani and Yamamoto did not directly influence his decision to join the Dodgers. He mentioned that he exchanged texts with both players and received a warm welcome, but ultimately, his choice to join the Dodgers over other teams was independent of playing alongside other Japanese athletes.
Sasaki emphasized that while playing with Ohtani and Yamamoto is exciting, his decision was based on joining a team and city that would embrace a Japanese player. He highlighted the Dodgers’ overall appeal as a top franchise in MLB and praised the stability of the front office, ultimately leading to his decision.
Looking ahead to his debut with the Dodgers in 2025, Sasaki’s role in the team’s pursuit of another championship remains uncertain. At 23 years old with promising pitching abilities, he is expected to join a rotation featuring top talents like Ohtani, Snell, Yamamoto, and Glasnow. Dodgers scouts have been impressed with Sasaki’s skills since his high school days, noting his explosive fastball, precise command, and mature demeanor.