In-demand Japanese-born pitcher Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, the 23-year-old announced he had signed a minor league contract with the organization.
Roki’s arrival in Los Angeles cements the city and the baseball franchise as the MLB destination of choice for the top players in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Sasaki is the latest pitching sensation to pick off the reigning World Series champions. The team lured pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.
In the hours since Sasaki announced his decision, baseball players across the major leagues have shared their reactions to the move. However, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb’s apparent reaction to the news is one that stood out.
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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park. (Darren Yamashita-USA Today Sports)
The All-Star right-hander took to the X on Friday and posted a GIF from “Space Jam.” The post featured a clip of Monstar’s team along with the caption, “Time to play some basketball.”
In the film, the Monstars were composed of a group that stole the talents of NBA players to effectively become a powerful super team.
WHO IS RŌKI SASAKI? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JAPANESE PITCHING SENSATION TIED TO MLB
The live-action and animated sports film was released in 1996 and starred Michael Jordan and several other NBA stars.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. While his recovery from injury prevented him from taking the pitching mound in 2024, Ohtani hit a career-best 54 home runs en route to earning his third. The MVP award.
FILE- A Los Angeles Dodgers helmet rests on the field before the Dodgers start practice during the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Hailey Archambault/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If Ohtani does retake the mound sometime in 2025, he would be part of arguably the deepest and most formidable pitching rotation in the major leagues. The Dodgers’ projected pitching rotation already features Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw. Gonsolin and May didn’t throw a pitch in MLB last season due to injury, and hey will likely have to be eased back into the rotation.
Blake Snella two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with LA earlier this offseason.
LA lured first baseman Freddie Freeman away from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Freeman had already won a National League MVP award and a World Series title with Atlanta before signing with the Dodgers. LA’s lineup also includes 2019 American League MVP Mookie Betts and a number of other star hits.
Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA over his four seasons playing at the highest level of baseball in Japan. His fastball routinely reaches 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which solidifies his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation.
Roki Sasaki, #14 of Team Japan, reacts after an out in the third inning against Team Mexico during the World Baseball Classic Semifinals at loanDepot park on March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
He played alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his representative in December during baseball’s winter meetings. In January, Sasaski narrowed his choices to the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres — ultimately choosing Los Angeles.
Webb’s Giants also had a busy offseason, acquiring star shortstop Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency. San Francisco competes in the NL West and missed the playoffs last season. The Giants will have to contend with what is expected to be one of the best divisions in MLB in 2025.
