The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching rotation is about to get a big boost. On Friday, coveted Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki announced that he will play for the Dodgers.
The 23-year-old took to Instagram to reveal that he is signing a minor league contract with the organization. Saski’s Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, will receive compensation from the MLB franchise.
Saski is the latest Japanese-born superstar to land in Los Angeles in the past year. Last winter, superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined the team. Ohtani was solely a designated hitter in 2024, but won his third career MVP trophy.
He plans to return to the pitching mound in 2025.
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Roki Sasaki of Japan pitches during a Pool B game against the Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome, Japan, on March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously said the signing of Sasaki was considered a “top priority”. Sasaki met with the Dodgers earlier this week.
The combination of youth and elite talent made Saski a coveted prospect.
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However, the Dodgers were long considered the favorites in the race to land the pitcher whose fastball routinely tops 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which solidifies his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation.
Roki Sasaki 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, Fla. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his agent in December during baseball’s winter meetings.
Roki Sasaki of the Chiba Lotte Marines lines up during a match against the Orix Buffaloes in Chiba, near Tokyo, on April 10, 2022. (Kyodo News via AP, file)
While several of these teams were granted in-person meetings, only three organizations made the shortlist. In January, the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres and Dodgers were the final teams under consideration.
The Dodgers’ projected pitching rotation already featured Tyler Glasnow, Yamamoto, Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw. Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with LA earlier this offseason.
