One of many largest names in MLB free company is reportedly set to decide on his workforce 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 in regards to the dynamic right-hander:
1. Roki Sasaki often is the most hyped Japanese prospect to return stateside in years.
This is not an exaggeration. Sasaki is probably probably the most coveted prospect to reach from Japan since a minimum of 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 an excellent projectable, lean and athletic body,” one worldwide scout mentioned 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 hitch Nippon Skilled Baseball.
Most Japanese gamers who aspire to pursue baseball professionally sometimes 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 a detailed 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.
Actually, Sasaki even discovered his signature wipeout slider from Darvish.
