Roki Sasaki, born on November 3, 2001, in Rikuzentakata, Japan, is a right-handed pitcher known for his exceptional fastball and splitter. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 187 pounds, he began his professional career with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league.
NPB Career Highlights:
- 2021 Season: Sasaki made his NPB debut on May 16, finishing the season with a 2.27 ERA over 63.1 innings, striking out 68 batters.
- 2022 Season: He threw a perfect game on April 10, setting a new NPB record with 19 consecutive strikeouts.
- 2024 Season: Sasaki posted a 2.35 ERA with 129 strikeouts.
MLB Career:
In January 2025, Sasaki signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and made his MLB debut on March 19, 2025, at 23 years and 136 days old, making him the third-youngest Japanese player to debut in MLB.
2025 Season Performance:
- Spring Training: Sasaki appeared in two games, earning a win with a 0.00 ERA over 7 innings, allowing 7 hits, no walks, and striking out 7.
- Regular Season: In his debut game on March 19, he pitched 3 innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit, walked 5, and struck out 3. SI
Notable Achievement:
In his first MLB appearance, Sasaki secured his first career strikeout against fellow Japanese player Seiya Suzuki with a 99 mph fastball.
Sasaki’s transition from NPB to MLB has been closely watched, given his impressive track record and potential to make a significant impact in the majors.