The highly-anticipated entry of Japanese pitching phenomenon Roki Sasaki into Major League Baseball is officially on the horizon, sparking widespread interest among all 30 MLB teams.
Known as the “Monster of the Reiwa Era,” Sasaki has captured global attention with his 100 mph fastball and a splitter widely regarded as one of the best in the sport.
There are some scouts and talent evaluators who have confidently stated that Sasaki is a better pitcher than even Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers ended up signing the phenom Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal last winter.
Now, it’s Sasaki’s time…
The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball announced their intent to post Sasaki, giving him the opportunity to negotiate with MLB teams through the league’s posting system.
This move makes Sasaki accessible at a price point that even small-market teams may find feasible.
The right-hander, who recently turned 23, had long dreamed of reaching the majors and will enter MLB subject to international bonus pool restrictions, meaning he’ll sign as a prospect with a modest bonus, rather than waiting to become a free agent and commanding a contract potentially worth hundreds of millions.
“Since joining the team, the team has continued to listen to my thoughts about my future challenge in the MLB, and I am very grateful to the team for now officially allowing me to post,” Sasaki said (through translation) in a Marines released statement.
“There were many things that did not go well during my five years with the Marines, but I was always supported by my teammates, staff, front office, and fans, and was able to come this far by concentrating only on baseball.
“I will do my best to work my way up from my minor contract to become the best player in the world, so that I will have no regrets in this one and only baseball career, and so that I can live up to the expectations of everyone who has supported me this time.”
Had Sasaki waited until he was 25 to pursue an MLB career, he would have been eligible for full free agency, opening the door for a mega-deal similar to the massive Yamamoto contract.
Instead, he will follow a path similar to that of Shohei Ohtani, who also joined MLB at 23 under international signing constraints.
This route significantly limits his earning potential initially, but Sasaki’s evident desire to compete at the highest level of baseball outweighed any financial considerations.
The electric right-hander went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games this season. He struck out 129 batters in 111 innings pitched.
By all accounts, he’s just scratching the surface of his sky-high potential.
While speculation swirls around Sasaki’s eventual MLB home, insiders are watching closely to see which teams will move decisively.
The Dodgers, already favored by many to land Sasaki, hold the largest remaining international bonus pool at around $2.5 million, followed by the Orioles and Yankees, with approximately $2.15 million and $1.5 million, respectively.
The Mets, reportedly with just $314,000 left in their bonus pool, may have less flexibility.
Mets president David Stearns, however, personally scouted Sasaki in Japan earlier this year and remains optimistic about the chance to pair him with Kodai Senga in New York.
“[Sasaki] is a unique talent,” Stearns said at the recent GM meetings. “He’s 23 and throws 100 [mph] and a nasty splitter.”
According to the posting process, Sasaki will have a 45-day window to engage with teams after he’s officially made available, though it remains unclear whether this will take place before or after the December 15 cutoff for the 2024 signing period.
If the Marines wait until the 2025 signing period opens on January 15, teams would have fresh bonus allotments available.
Sasaki’s overall performance in NPB and international tournaments have only intensified excitement for clubs. Over four seasons in Japan, he recorded a 2.10 ERA and 505 strikeouts over 394⅔ innings.
His appearance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic further boosted his reputation as a fierce competitor on the global stage, where he threw a blistering 102 mph fastball to strike out MLB star Randy Arozarena and sustained an average fastball velocity of 101.5 mph in Japan’s victory over Mexico.
What are your thoughts on Sasaki as a prospect? … Do you think he’s the real deal?
At the end of the day, where do you think he ends up???
