MLB free agency has been ongoing since the end of the World Series. However, with less than two months until the start of spring training, the biggest remaining free agent is someone who’s never played in MLB before.
Free agent pitcher Rōki Sasaki is the latest superstar arm to come out of Japan. Given the success of guys like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shota Imanaga in recent years, it makes sense why so many teams would want to add Sasaki to their squads.
Sasaki opened his free agency window on Dec. 9, meaning he only has 45 days – until January 23 – to make a signing decision, or he would be forced to play another year with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League. The decision is coming soon, so here’s what to know about MLB’s next big Japanese pitcher.
Roki Sasaki stats
Sasaki has played four seasons with Chiba Lotte in Japan. Here are his career stats:
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ERA: 2.02
W-L: 30-15
IP: 414.2
SO: 524
SO per 9: 11.4
SO/BB: 5.76
WHIP: 0.883
HR per 9: 0.3
Sasaki boasts incredible velocity, bringing arguably the hardest fastball Japan has ever seen. Sasaki has reached as high as 102.5 mph, albeit during a warmup game for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. For reference, the highest velocity Ohtani has reached in MLB is 101.4.
In Sasaki’s first start of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Sasaki threw 10 fastballs. Not one was under 100 mph. His splitter can reach over 90 mph as well, which would make it one of the deadliest putaway pitches in Major League Baseball.
On April 10, 2022, Sasaki threw arguably the greatest game in NPB history, tossing a perfect game with 19 strikeouts.
Rōki Sasaki measurements
Per Baseball-Reference, the 23-year-old Sasaki is 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, giving him roughly the same measurements as 2024 All-Star Matt Strahm. For comparison, Strahm’s average velocity on his fastball sat at just 93.4 mph in 2024.
Latest Rōki Sasaki rumors
On Monday, it was announced that both the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees were out of the running for Sasaki. As expected, the race for Sasaki will likely come down to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, with the Toronto Blue Jays being considered longshots after Sasaki visited the club last week.
Sasaki’s signing window remains from Wednesday, Jan. 15 to Thursday, Jan. 23.