The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their latest talent coup on Wednesday, officially adding Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki to the team.
After statements from Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Sasaki introduced himself through a translator before taking questions from the media for the first time as a Dodger.
The main question involved the influence of Japanese Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his decision.
What impact did Otani and Yamamoto have on Sasaki’s decision?
Ohtani was coming off a historic MVP campaign and his first World Series title in his first season with the Dodgers. Yamamoto was coming off a strong rookie season (3.00 ERA, 105 Ks in 90 innings), recovering from a mid-season injury to beat the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series.
Each player's transition from Japanese baseball to Major League Baseball went through a similar process. Did they influence Sasaki's decision to join the Dodgers? According to Sasaki, they didn't.
Sasaki told reporters he exchanged text messages with both men and they welcomed his decision. But he decided to join the Dodgers over the Padres, Blue Jays and other suitors rather than play with other Japanese players.
"For me, having Japanese players in the team is not a priority because I'm looking at all the teams," Sasaki said through a translator. "Being able to play with two great players in Ohtani and Yamamoto, I really I'm looking forward to playing with them.
"Not only them, but the rest of the team is very talented as well. So I hope and I'm going to work hard to make sure I can play alongside them."
Sasaki did say that he did prioritize joining a team and city that would be willing to accept Japanese players.
"If there are Japanese players on the team, it's not a priority," Sasaki continued. "But I do want to check whether the Japanese players will be welcomed by the team and the city."
Why did Sasaki choose the Dodgers?
After an extensive process that included meeting with multiple teams, Sasaki said he ultimately concluded the Dodgers are the best team in Major League Baseball. He believes in management.
"Overall, when I look at the general consensus, I think the Dodgers are in the lead," Sasaki said. … “What stands out is the stability of the front office.”
It's hard to argue with his conclusion. The Dodgers were coming off a World Series title and made high-profile acquisitions of Sasaki this offseason, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and All-Star reliever Kirby Yates. The Dodgers also retained several of their own key players, including Teoscar Hernandez and Blake Trenin, to solidify themselves as favorites to win another World Series next season.
When will Sasaki make his Dodgers debut?
The question facing Sasaki in 2025 is how big of a role he will play in the Dodgers' bid to regain the championship. Sasaki is 23 years old and has an arsenal of two-pitch arsenal, but he's not quite the MLB product that Yamamoto was when he joined the Dodgers at age 25 last season.
But his fastball and pitch are two of the best pitches in baseball, and if there's any delay, he should be a rotation piece soon after the 2025 season. When he's ready, he'll join a rotation that joins Ohtani, Snell, Yamamoto and All-Star Tyler Glasnow as one of the best players in MLB history.
Sasaki can play a big role in realizing that advantage. Friedman said Wednesday that when Dodger scouts first saw Sasaki six years ago when Sasaki was in high school, he was immediately wowed by his play.
"Even so, his explosive fastball, pinpoint command and poise beyond his years remain compelling."