Now that Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki has officially signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he’s ready to enjoy some American fare.
“I haven’t tried any American hamburgers, so I’m really looking forward to eating the best,” Sasaki said through an interpreter during an interview with SportsNetLA.
Sasaki, 23, signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent, meaning he is under team control for six seasons. Sasaki also got a $6.5 million signing bonus.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) speaks during an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Photos)
With the signing bonus, Sasaki can try as many hamburgers as he wants.
Sasaki dominated Nippon Professional Baseball, posting a 2.10 ERA over four seasons with a whopping 505 strikeouts in 394 2/3 innings.
Sasaki was highly sought after across Major League Baseball when his bidding period opened, but chose the reigning World Series champions as his next team.
It’s the second straight season the Dodgers have signed a free agent pitcher from Japan, handing Yoshinobu Yamamoto the largest guaranteed contract for a pitcher in MLB history last offseason.
Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million deal and delivered year one with a 7-2 record and 3.00 ERA over 18 regular-season starts and 90 innings.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) is photographed by the media during an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Photos)
If Sasaki had waited two years until he turned 25, he could have hit the free agent market and signed an exorbitant deal like Yamamoto, but Sasaki wanted to play in the big leagues sooner.
Sasaki said he plans to rely not only on Yamamoto but also compatriot Shohei Ohtani this season.
“There’s just a lot of things that I’m not going to know, so I’m going to trust our coaches and players in terms of just getting to know the team. But we also have Japanese players on the team, so I I’m going to lean in as well at them,” Sasaki said.
If Sasaki progresses as the Dodgers hope he does, they will have one of the best rotations in baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) is photographed by the media during an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Photos)
Ohtani will return to the mound after not pitching last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers signed two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell this offseason.
Tyler Glasnow will be back after his 2024 season ended prematurely with an elbow injury. Add Yamamoto and Sasaki to the mix, and that gives the Dodgers five starters with ace potential in their rotation, a rarity in baseball.
The Dodgers’ journey to try to become repeat World Series champions begins when they host the Chicago Cubs in Japan for a two-game series on March 18 and 19.
