TL;DR - Scouting Report
Roki Sasaki, could sign with an MLB team, with the Dodgers favored. Sasaki’s WBC performance and record-breaking fastball make him one of baseball’s most sought-after prospects. Will the Dodgers add him to their dream rotation?
Start the Rally: Tweet This Now!The countdown is on as Japan’s latest hot commodity is expected to be posted to sign with an MLB team in 2025, with many believing the Dodgers to be favored to land his services.
Roki Sasaki just turned 23 years old, and could be on the verge of signing a big-league contract, Jon Heyman reports on X, with the Dodgers looking like the favorite, but other teams, including the Padres, having a shot to sign the young fireballing starter.
Sasaki made a name for himself in the World Baseball Classic in 2023, where he helped Japan to win the gold medal over the United States. For the tournament he went 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched.
The story on Sasaki was the velocity behind his four-seam fastball, which averaged 100.5 mph, and topped out at 101.9 mph.
Did you know? Sasaki shares the record for the fastest pitch by a Japanese player in NPB history with a current Dodger. On April 28, 2003, Sasaki three four pitches recorded at 165 kph, or 102.5 mph, tying the record held by Shohei Ohtani.
It has been thought that the Dodgers’ front office has had an eye on Sasaki, similar to the way it reportedly did prior to signing Ohtani last season following six seasons with the Angels.
Starting pitching was depleted for the Dodgers in their championship run in 2024. That is expected to change, and really could take a twist for the better by adding the young Sasaki to the rotation.
As it currently stands, the Dodgers have added Blake Snell to anchor the rotation in 2025 and beyond. He’ll be joined by Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow. It is expected that Tony Gonsolin and Bobby Miller could fill out a six-man pitching rotation when the team begins the 2025 season.
The Dodgers are also reportedly interested in pursuing a trade for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
Sasaki is listed at 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds, has been compared to Stephen Strasburg’s early days as baseball’s top prospect. He features a three-quarters delivery and throws a four-seam fastball, split-finger fastball, forkball, curveball and sliderm with his forkball standing out as his preferred breaking pitch.
Last season Sasaki went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.036 WHIP, with 129 strikeouts and 32 walks in 111 IP for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Your Turn Fans: Why should the Dodgers go all in to sign Roki Sasaki? What does the Dodgers’ starting rotation look like to you? Tell us in the comments!
