According to a recent report from Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Arizona Diamondbacks are one of five Major League teams that have sent scouts to Japan to watch 22-year-old Roki Sasaki, a rising star in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Now in his fourth season with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki has posted an impressive 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA. His performance last year was even more remarkable, finishing the season with a 1.78 ERA and 135 strikeouts over just 91 innings.
While it remains uncertain whether the Marines will allow Sasaki to leave Japan for MLB in the near future, teams like the Diamondbacks are investing significant resources to scout him. Bowden noted, “If he is coming, he will be the most coveted international free agent, as the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, and Diamondbacks have all committed significant resources to scout him this month, including sending top executives to see him pitch.”
Sasaki also helped Team Japan secure a gold medal in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, showcasing a blazing fastball that reaches 103 MPH. Bob Nightengale of USA Today has suggested that West Coast teams may have an advantage in signing Sasaki, given their proximity to Japan. “I think all 30 teams will be on him, like with Ohtani… but the West Coast teams have an advantage because they’re closer to home,.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers, in particular, may have an edge due to their financial power and established track record with Japanese players. Nightengale further noted, “Even though Sasaki is a country kid from the farm, having [Shohei] Ohtani and [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto already on the team could make him more comfortable. He might think, ‘I’d rather go where I have friends.’”
However, one concern surrounding Sasaki is his injury history. He missed time in 2023 due to an oblique strain and has also dealt with an arm injury this season. If Sasaki were to sign with an MLB team, it’s likely that his contract could resemble Shohei Ohtani’s initial deal with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017—a minor-league contract with the potential for rapid promotion to the majors.
