One of many greatest names in MLB free company is reportedly set to decide on his staff imminently.
That might be 23-year-old Japanese beginning pitcher Roki Sasaki, who opted to forgo a extra profitable payday to pursue his MLB ambitions earlier.
However who’s Sasaki and what ought to baseball followers count on from him? Listed here are 10 issues to know concerning the dynamic right-hander:
1. Roki Sasaki will be the most hyped Japanese prospect to return stateside in years.
This is not an exaggeration. Sasaki is maybe probably the most coveted prospect to reach from Japan since at the very least Yu Darvish. And that features the extremely touted arrivals of Los Angeles Dodgers beginning pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.
“He’s nearly as good as marketed … He has a perfect projectable, lean and athletic body,” one worldwide scout stated about Sasaki. “He has glorious arm motion and supply, with three plus energy pitches with management over command. He has No. 1 [starter] upside.”
2. He drew MLB curiosity in 2019 however determined to affix Nippon Skilled Baseball.
Most Japanese gamers who aspire to pursue baseball professionally usually start their careers in Nippon Skilled Baseball (NPB). Sasaki did not wind up changing into an exception, spending his first 4 skilled seasons with NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines.
Nonetheless, he attracted curiosity from MLB groups as an newbie in 2019.
3. Sasaki has an in depth relationship with San Diego Padres’ pitcher Yu Darvish.
One of many causes the Padres are rumored to be finalists for Sasaki is as a result of his mentor and fellow countryman, Yu Darvish, performs in San Diego.
In reality, Sasaki even discovered his signature wipeout slider from Darvish.
