Dodgers News: Roki Sasaki Seen Wearing NL West Rival's Gear
The Los Angeles Dodgers have their sights set on another Japanese arm.
Roki Sasaki is a 22-year-old pitcher with a 102-mph fastball. A top international free agent, and will be highly sought after (and not just by the Dodgers) whenever he is posted.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager of performance operations Will Ireton — if not others in the organization — have personally traveled to Japan to scout Sasaki in person. Unfortunately for them, the San Diego Padres are interested too.
Courtesy of former Dodger Yu Darvish, the Padres are making their move. Sasaki was spotted on social media sporting Padres gear from head to toe.
After re-signing with the Lotte Marines, Sasaki will remain in the NPB for the 2024 season.
In 2023, the right-hander went 7-4 with a 1.78 ERA, 135 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 15 starts over 91 innings pitched.
According to reports on social media, former Dodger legend Hideo Nomo (who currently works for the Padres) and watched Sasaki throw a bullpen on Wednesday in their native Japan.
If the Dodgers want to step up the recruiting game, it might be time to call on Shohei Ohtani and/or Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They can afford to send some gear over, charter a private jet to snap their own viral social media photos, or escalate the recruiting wars however they see fit.
Sasaki only has three years of professional experience pitching in Japan's highest league, not the nine previously required under the MLB-NPB posting system to gain international free agency.
Neither did Ohtani when he was posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters during the 2017-18 offseason. MLB, NPB and the MLB Players' Association literally rewrote the rules to allow Ohtani to come to the United States prematurely. In theory, Sasaki could come over early too, depending on what his Japanese team allows.
