The Chase for Roki Sasaki: An Emotional Roller Coaster
For the second straight offseason, the days leading up to one of Japan’s most talented baseball exports announcing his MLB destination on Instagram were marked by uncertainty and a flurry of activity. Last winter, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman described the chase for Shohei Ohtani — and the wild 24 hours preceding Ohtani’s announcement, which included erroneous reports about the superstar heading to Toronto and a flight-tracking saga involving a Shark Tank judge — as "an emotional roller-coaster" that seemed to take years off his life. This January, a similar sense of anticipation and anxiety gripped the Dodgers’ front office as they awaited the decision of Roki Sasaki, the latest pitching phenom out of Japan. Unlike Ohtani, who was a two-time MVP commanding hundreds of millions of dollars, Sasaki, at 23, was subject to amateur restrictions, limiting his options to a minor-league deal and a team’s international bonus pool money. Despite the modest signing cost, the Dodgers’ commitment and the potential for a significant return on investment made this a high-stakes pursuit.
The Final Push and Unexpected Competitors
Twenty teams submitted presentations to Sasaki’s representatives, expressing their keen interest in the young pitcher. Eight of these teams, including the Dodgers, Padres, and Blue Jays, received in-person meetings. Sasaki tasked each team with explaining why his velocity had dipped in the 2024 season and how they planned to help him regain his form. Despite his solid 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 4.03 strikeout-to-walk ratio, these numbers were a step back from his standout performances earlier in his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) career, where he had a 1.78 ERA in 2023, striking out 135 batters, walking just 17, and allowing only one home run in 91 innings. The Dodgers, known for their meticulous approach, dived deep into the assignment, sharing detailed insights and proprietary information, which they believed could help Sasaki. However, the pressure was intense, especially as the Blue Jays added $2 million to their international bonus pool space just hours before Sasaki’s decision, raising concerns in the Dodgers’ front office. "Pins and needles," as one executive described it, aptly captured the mood.
The Dodgers’ Long-Term Pursuit
The Dodgers’ pursuit of Sasaki was a story of long-term commitment and patience. They had scouted him for nearly seven years, beginning during his penultimate year in high school when Dodgers director of Pacific Rim scouting Jon Deeble was tipped off about an intriguing arm in Ofunato, a city just 50 miles from Hanamaki, where Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi went to high school. Deeble estimates that the Dodgers saw between 20 and 30 of Sasaki’s high school games, where his size, flexibility, velocity, and ability to spin a breaking ball stood out. Galen Carr, the Dodgers vice president of player personnel, traveled to Ofunato in early 2019 to witness Sasaki’s performance, which included a running, riding fastball that touched 100 mph and a splitter that was "as good as you’ll see at that age." Sasaki’s physicality, mobility, coordination, and presence on the mound made him a "super projectable" prospect. The Dodgers’ consistent presence and dedication to evaluating him over the years likely played a significant role in his eventual decision.
Sasaki’s Journey and Decision-Making
Sasaki’s journey to the MLB was marked by several milestones and challenges. By the summer of 2019, he had broken Ohtani’s high school record with a 101-mph pitch and threw a 194-pitch, 21-strikeout complete game during Ofunato’s regional tournament, earning him the nickname "The Monster of the Reiwa Era." Despite his burgeoning reputation, Sasaki’s high school coach made the courageous decision to sit him during a crucial final game, prioritizing his long-term health. Sasaki represented Japan at the 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cup in Korea and was drafted as the top overall pick in the NPB Draft. He joined the Chiba Lotte Marines, where his innings were carefully monitored due to shoulder and oblique issues. Despite his limited playing time in NPB, his tools and performances, such as his 19-strikeout perfect game at 20 years old, made him a highly coveted prospect. When the time came to choose an MLB team, Sasaki was deeply honored by the attention he received, but he was realistic about his achievements so far. "I am deeply honored so many teams reached out to me, especially considering I haven’t achieved much in Japan," he said at his introductory press conference.
The Dodgers’ Synergy and Support
The Dodgers’ approach to Sasaki’s assignment demonstrated their synergy between departments and their commitment to player development. Sasaki was impressed by the stability of the Dodgers’ front office and their detailed plan for addressing his decline in velocity. The Dodgers explained how they could quickly identify and address any issues during and between his starts, a level of attention that resonated with Sasaki. Additionally, the presence of Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who both spoke with Sasaki about the potential for success and acceptance in Los Angeles, helped solidify his decision. Ohtani, in particular, emphasized that he was rooting for Sasaki’s success regardless of the team he chose, but the Dodgers’ reputation and resources clearly played a crucial role. "What I actually told him before signing was, as a player and as a person, I’m just rooting for him to be successful, regardless of whatever team he ends up with," Ohtani said through an interpreter.
A New Chapter for the Dodgers and Sasaki
The Dodgers’ acquisition of Sasaki, along with Blake Snell, Hyeseong Kim, and Tanner Scott, marks a significant bolstering of their roster. Sasaki’s potential to become one of the best pitchers in the world, combined with the team’s willingness to exercise patience and provide the necessary development, makes this a promising partnership. The Dodgers, who have made the playoffs 12 straight seasons and won the World Series twice in the past five years, are well-positioned to nurture Sasaki’s talents. The team’s international scouting efforts, including the presence of a full-time scout in Japan, and their deep ties to the country, evidenced by the widespread availability of their merchandise and the live broadcast of their games, were crucial in their successful pursuit. "We thought Roki was going to be available two years ago, and then one year ago, and now finally here," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "We just try to be flexible, and when there’s an opportunity we try to be opportunistic." Sasaki’s decision to join the Dodgers not only completes a nearly seven-year pursuit but also further solidifies their influence and appeal in the Japanese market.
