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The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their latest coup of talent this Wednesday. officially presenting Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as a member of the team.
Following statements from Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedmen, Sasaki introduced himself through an interpreter before facing media questions for the first time as a Dodger.
The main question concerned the influence of his fellow Japanese Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his decision.
What influence did Ohtani and Yamamoto have on Sasaki’s decision?
Ohtani just wrapped up a historic MVP campaign that culminated with his first World Series championship in his first season playing with the Dodgers. Yamamoto is coming off a strong rookie season (3.00 ERA, 105 strikeouts in 90 innings) that included a midseason comeback from injury to earn a victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series. .
Each player went through a similar process in the transition from Japanese baseball to MLB. Did they influence Sasaki in his decision to join them on the Dodgers? According to Sasaki, it was not like that.
Sasaki told reporters that he exchanged text messages with both and that they welcomed him when he made his decision. But he made the decision to join the Dodgers instead of the Padres, Blue Jays and other suitors regardless of playing with other Japanese players.
“It wasn’t a priority for me whether or not there was a Japanese player on a team as I looked at all the teams,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “Being able to play with Ohtani and Yamamoto, both exceptional players, I’m looking forward to playing with them.
“And not just them, but the rest of the team, who are also incredibly talented. So I hope and I’m going to work to make sure I can be alongside them.”
Sasaki said he prioritized joining a team and city that would accept a Japanese player.
“It wasn’t a priority whether there were Japanese players on the team,” Sasaki continued. “But I did want to check that a Japanese player would be well received in the team and in the city.”
Why did Sasaki choose the Dodgers?
After an extensive process that included meetings with several teams, Sasaki said he ultimately concluded that the Dodgers are the best overall franchise in MLB. And he believes in the directive.
“Overall, when I looked at the general consensus, I thought the Dodgers were on top,” Sasaki said. … “The first thing that stood out was the stability of the board.”
It is difficult to argue with his conclusion. The Dodgers just won a World Series title and have dominated the offseason with high-profile acquisitions in addition to Sasaki, including two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and All-Star reliever Kirby Yates. The Dodgers have also retained several of their key players, including Teoscar Hernandez and Blake Treinen, to solidify themselves as favorites to win the World Series again next season.
When will Sasaki make his Dodgers debut?
The question for Sasaki in 2025 is what role he will play in the Dodgers’ quest to repeat. At 23 years old and with a two-pitch arsenal, Sasaki is not yet a polished MLB product like Yamomoto was last season when he joined the Dodgers at 25.
But his fastball and splitter project as two of the best pitches in baseball, and it shouldn’t be long until the 2025 season before he’s a member of the rotation, if there is any delay. When he’s ready, he’ll join a rotation that’s floating on the upside of being one of the best in MLB history alongside Ohtani, Snell, Yamomoto and All-Star Tyler Glasnow.
Sasaki could play an important role in achieving that benefit. Friedman said Wednesday that Sasaki’s material immediately captivated Dodgers scouts when they first saw him six years ago, when he was in high school.
“Even then, his explosive fastball, precise control and poise beyond his years stood out.”