Roki Sasaki, dubbed “the Monster” for his formidable fastball, has risen from tragedy to become a baseball sensation in Japan. He survived the devastating 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, which took the lives of his father and grandparents and destroyed his home. Relocating to Ofunato, the young arm embarked on his baseball career.
In high school, Roki Sasaki shattered Shohei Ohtani’s fastball velocity record, reaching 163 km/h (101 mph). This remarkable achievement drew comparisons to Ohtani and piqued the interest of Major League Baseball teams. Nonetheless, he opted to stay in Japan to compete in the High School Baseball Championship.
The Chiba Lotte Marines selected Roki Sasaki as their top pick in the 2019 NPB draft. The team took a cautious approach to his development, delaying his NPB debut until May 16, 2021. During his rookie season, the pitcher recorded a 3-2 record, a 2.27 ERA, and 68 strikeouts over 63 1/3 innings in 11 appearances, showcasing his immense potential.
The New York Yankees were keen on Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki in 2025, following their unsuccessful bid for Yoshinobu Yamamoto a year before. However, they lost the bid and he joined the Dodgers.
On April 10, 2022, Roki Sasaki pitched a historic perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). This remarkable achievement marked the first perfect game in NPB since 1994 and the 94th no-hitter overall. He tied the NPB record for strikeouts in a game with 19 and set a new world record by striking out 13 consecutive batters.
Roki Sasaki nearly repeated this extraordinary feat on April 17, pitching eight perfect innings against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters before being pulled from the game.
On April 28, 2023, Roki Sasaki equaled Shohei Ohtani’s NPB record for the fastest pitch by a Japanese player, throwing four pitches at 165 km/h (102.5 mph). He concluded the 2022 season with a 9-4 record, a 2.02 ERA, and 173 strikeouts over 129 1/3 innings.
Roki Sasaki also represented Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, playing a pivotal role in their championship win over the United States. During the tournament, he recorded a 1-0 record with a 3.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. His standout performance against Mexico was highlighted by a four-seam fastball averaging 100.5 mph and peaking at 101.9 mph, along with a split-finger fastball averaging 91.2 mph with 31.4 inches of vertical break.
Sasaki’s arsenal featured a fastball regularly touching 97–100+ mph, a devastating splitter, and at times an above‑average slider. In April 2022, he pitched a perfect game, striking out 19 batters and tying the NPB record for consecutive strikeouts in a game. He also set the record for most consecutive outs recorded at the start of a pitching performance.
By the end of the 2024 season, Sasaki had compiled a highly impressive NPB résumé, including a cumulative 2.02 ERA and over 500 strikeouts across four seasons.
MLB posting and the Yankees pursuit
In December 2024, the Chiba Lotte Marines posted Sasaki, making him available to pursue his Major League Baseball dream. Dozens of teams expressed interest, including the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants, with multiple clubs meeting with him and his agent in person.
The Yankees were among the group pursuing Sasaki and even hosted a delegation to meet with him and his representatives. However, by mid‑January 2025, team sources confirmed that Sasaki would not sign with the Yankees and that the Yankees were informed they were no longer in contention before the signing deadline closed.
Signing with the Dodgers
Sasaki ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 22, 2025, agreeing to a contract that included a reported $6.5 million signing bonus under MLB’s international free‑agent bonus pool rules. He joined a Dodgers rotation that already featured fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
His signing marked one of the most intriguing international free‑agent acquisitions in recent MLB history. While limited by the posting and bonus pool system due to his age (under 25), he entered the Dodgers organization as a top prospect and immediate rotation candidate.
2025 MLB season with the Dodgers
Sasaki began his first MLB season with high expectations. He debuted on March 19, 2025, during the MLB Tokyo Series, striking out Seiya Suzuki for his first major league K.
By mid‑May 2025, Sasaki had notched his first major league win, demonstrating flashes of dominance that mirrored his Japanese career. However, on May 13, 2025, he was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement, slowing his rookie campaign.
After rehabbing and spending time with the Dodgers’ Triple‑A affiliate, Sasaki was activated from the injured list in late September 2025. The club began using him out of the bullpen in the season’s final games, as they evaluated how best to tap into his elite arsenal and preserve his health for high‑leverage situations.
Over the season, Sasaki made 10 appearances, including eight starts, finishing with a 1–1 record, 4.46 ERA, and 28 strikeouts across 36.1 innings. His early outings showed glimpses of elite velocity and a sharp splitter, but command issues continued. In the 2025 postseason, he excelled in relief, recording three saves in nine appearances and delivering shutout innings as the Dodgers went on to win the World Series. Though his rookie year included setbacks, Sasaki’s performance in October underlined his potential as a dominant force, and his 1.43 WHIP.
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