Over the past couple of seasons, we have seen an increase in Japanese players coming to play in the MLB. With players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto being the most recent ones to come and impress American fans.

Now if you’ve been following the MLB Free Agency this season, you have to have heard the name, Roki Sasaki. Now you might’ve asked yourself the same question I asked myself. Who is Roki Sasaki? Well, I didn’t know who he was before his name, but now with him officially making the move to the MLB. I feel like the whole world needs to know about Roki.

Who is Roki Sasaki?

Roki Sasaki is a 23-year-old pitcher, born on November 3rd 2001. He is from Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan.

Roki is 6’4 and currently is rostered on the Chiba Lotte Marines. He finally made his NPB debut in 2021 after getting drafted in 2019, and the Marines not allowing him to play in 2020.

Roki pitched a perfect game on April 10, 2022, he had 19 total strikeouts and also set a league record of sitting down 13 consecutive batters.

In his next start a week later, he was taken out in the beginning of the ninth inning after eight perfect innings, this move was to protect his health.

2x NPB All-Star

Has the fastest pitch in Japanese High School (101 mph, 163 km) history, beating the record set previously by Ohtani.

MLB teams were hoping that Sasaki would declare for the MLB draft but decided to ultimately stay with his teammates.

Roki has an amazing fastball, that has reached 102.5 mph, which tied Ohtani’s NPB record. His arsenal also includes his best off-speed pitch, a forkball. A curve-ball and a slider.

Roki Sasaki’s stats

You can find his full career stats, linked here with the help of Baseball Reference! But regardless, we will break down the most notable numbers.

2.02 ERA, 414.2 IP, 275 HA, 16 HRA, 524 K, 0.88 WHIP

I know these are career stats, but go look at his stats from every year he has played since he entered the NPB at 19 years old, these are Cy Young numbers here. Now you’re gonna hear me say this a lot in this story. But Roki has the potential to be the biggest thing in the MLB next to Ohtani.

Okay this guy sounds awesome, but he sounds expensive

Yes, he would 100% be expensive, but the Mariners entered him into the MLB at 23 years old. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, He will qualify as an International amateur free agent due to being under the age of 25.

How does it all work you might ask? Well if you wanna read the full details of the posting system, you can find it here.

But in short terms, any player who has 9 or fewer years of experience in the NPB can ask to be posted for MLB clubs to become an international free agent by his club (Marines)

Under the current rules, the release fee, the Marines can acquire, would be up to 20% of Roki’s total guaranteed value of the contract he signs.

For an MLB contract with 25m or less, the release fee is 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract.

You can read the rest of the amounts that teams would get if the contract reached a certain threshold. But we know that Roki will fall under the 25m threshold due to some restrictions.

Since he is under 25 and has less than six seasons in the NPB, essentially all teams are in the running here. Everyone from the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks, and the White Sox. Due to how the MLB has the rules for players under 25. You can read a amazing detailed breakdown by Baseball America here.

Roki also asked the Marines last season to post him to the MLB, but they declined as they we’re struggling in the financial department. They will most definitely take a huge pay cut by posting him early to the MLB.

Where can Roki sign?

Essentially Roki can sign anywhere he wants, it’s not about the money as teams are only allowed to spend a certain amount of it. If they go over the amount, the MLB will just simply reject the contract. A big note of these discussions is that no talks of a long-term deal can happen at any time.

Now the question will be, does Roki wait until January 15th, when the money essentially resets and more teams can mak a push for him?

Seven teams currently have more than the league minimum to sign a player which will be posted below. At this time, these are the teams that can make a move at Roki.

Dodgers: $2,502,500
Orioles: $2,147,300
Yankees: $1,487,200
Giants: $1,247,500
Red Sox: $990,000
Rockies: $857,800
White Sox: $740,000

Once that January 15th day comes around, all teams will be in the running to be able to sign Roki.

But I don’t think it will come down to the money, or the extra amenities. as this is what Roki said in a statement following his posting to the MLB.

“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.”

Hearing it straight from the source himself, he wants somewhere that he can grow and develop, he’s willing to not take a payday like Yamamoto did and instead come into the MLB early and show everyone why he deserves to be in the MLB.

The best way to describe this whole situation is like when Shohei Ohtani came and signed with the Angels. It essentially came down to three things. He felt a strong connection with the coaching staff, he believed that they could help him reach his goals. He also likes the West Coast and the Angels fit that picture perfectly. Then last but not least, for his development. He felt like the Angels provided the best environment for him to develop and reach those career goals he had in mind. Looking back now, Ohtani is coming off a 50-50 season, and is looking to become a multiple time MVP.

All 30 MLB teams have a chance here, they just need to show Roki, why their team will help him reach his career goals.