Coveted Japanese-born pitcher Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 23-year-old announced on Friday that he had signed a minor league contract with the organization.
Roki's arrival in Los Angeles solidifies the city and baseball team's status as the premier MLB destination for Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) top players in Japan. Sasaki is the latest pitcher to draft the defending World Series champion. The team added pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.
In the hours since Sasaki made his decision public, 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 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 posted a GIF from "Space Jam" on the X website on Friday. The post showed a clip of the Monstars team and was captioned, "It's time to play some basketball."
In the film, the Monstars are a team that steals the talents of NBA players and is actually a powerful super team.
Who is Riki Sasaki? What you need to know about Japanese pitchers' sensation in MLB
This live-action animated sports movie 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. Although he won't be on the mound in 2024 as he recovers from injury, Ohtani hit a career-best 54 home runs en route to earning his third MVP award.
FILE - A Los Angeles Dodgers helmet is placed on the field before the team begins batting practice during their 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 returns to the mound at some point in 2025, he'll be part of the deepest, strongest pitching rotation in the majors. The Dodgers' projected pitching rotation already features Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw. Gonsolin and May, who did not pitch in the MLB last season due to injuries, will likely have to work their way back into the rotation.
Blake SnellThe two-time Cy Young Award winner also signed with Los Angeles earlier this offseason.
Los Angeles poached first baseman Freddie Freeman from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Prior to signing with the Dodgers, Freeman had already won a National League MVP award and a World Series championship with Atlanta. Los Angeles' roster also includes 2019 American League MVP Mookie Betts and many other star hitters.
Sasaki had a 2.02 ERA in four seasons playing at the highest level of baseball in Japan. His fastball regularly reaches 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive split shot, which bolsters his potential to be an ace in the rotation.
Japan's No. 14 Roki Sasaki reacts after getting an out in the third inning against Mexico during the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic at Loans Warehouse Park on March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
He joins Ohtani and Yamamoto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
In December, during baseball's winter meetings, a long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his representative body. By January, Sasassky had narrowed his options to the Dodgers; toronto blue jays and the San Diego Padres — ultimately choosing Los Angeles.
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Weber's Giants also had a busy offseason, acquiring star shortstop Willie Adams and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency. San Francisco competes in the NFC West and missed the playoffs last season. The Giants will have to contend with one of the best teams in MLB in 2025.
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