It’s no secret that Los Angeles Dodgers have been able to attract Japanese stars recently.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto chose Dodgers over the New York Mets last year when both teams offered him $ 325 million.
Recently, Roki Sasaki also chose dodgers despite Toronto Blue Jays, which allegedly offers more money.
Because of his age, Sasaki, 23, was limited to the team’s international pool money.
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The New York Mets Pitcher Kodai Senga throws against Los Angeles Dodgers during the first lap of Game 1 in the NL Championship Series 13 October 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
And Shohei Ohtani decided to stay in Los Angeles and sign with Dodgers before the 2024 campaign.
Japanese stars have joined other teams in recent years, but Yamamoto and Sasaki are arguably the top pitching prospects than Ohtani, since Masahiro Tanaka arrived in 2014 with Yankees.
At the forefront of the 2023 season, Kodai landed a five -year $ 90 million contract with the New York Mets, and he is intended to be at the top of their rotation this season after losing most of last season.
When he reported for spring training on Tuesday, Senga was asked how Mets could land more Japanese stars and he was brutally honest.
“Of course, I would very much like something more on Mets, but the climate is nice there, and I think it certainly plays a role,” Senga said.
The New York Mets starting pot Kodai Senga responds to some difficulties with a pitchcom device during the first lap against Milwaukee Brewers June 28, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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“We have to build a roof.”
Mets owner Steve Cohen has teased a roof before, once it noticed that it would cost approx. 800 million dollars to build. But last year he said “ship has sailed” because it is “too expensive.”
There is a figure to be more Japanese stars that soon arrive in the United States. Lefty Slugger Munetaka Murakami, who hit 56 homers in 2022 and has a .938 career ops abroad, is expected to join the major leagues next year.
It should also be noted that Blue Jays has a roof, so the weather was clearly not too Sasaki.
Kodai Senga of the New York Mets sits down against Atlanta on Citi Field 26 July 2024 in New York City. (Jim Mcisaac/Getty Images)
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There are 15 Japanese-born players on Major League guards, and the latest to make his MLB debut was Chicago Cub’s Pitcher Shota Imanaga.
