Some of Major League Baseball’s most thrilling players, such as Juan Soto, Elly De La Cruz, and Shohei Ohtani, have come from international signings. This year, another potential superstar is making his way to MLB from overseas: Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitching sensation from Japan.
Sasaki, who narrowly missed achieving back-to-back perfect games—a feat no pitcher has accomplished in either MLB or Japan—has drawn attention from approximately 20 MLB teams. At least seven teams have met with Sasaki in person, while about 13 others have submitted formal proposals through his American agent, Joel Wolfe.
Sasaki was posted to MLB on December 10, and under the regulations between MLB and the Japanese leagues, he has 45 days to decide on a team, with a deadline of January 23. If he doesn’t make a decision by then, he will remain with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. MLB’s international signing period officially starts on Wednesday, so Sasaki has just over a week to finalize his decision.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are seen as the frontrunners to sign Sasaki, with the San Diego Padres also in contention. Both teams are on the West Coast, which is closer to Sasaki’s home in Japan, and both have prominent Japanese players on their rosters.
The Padres feature veteran Yu Darvish, while the Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, one New York sports radio host, Chris “C-Mac” McGonicle of WFAN, believes Sasaki might land with the New York Yankees instead. McGonicle expressed growing excitement about the possibility, citing the Yankees’ top-notch pitching development program, which Sasaki values highly.
The Yankees’ ability to develop pitchers, including transforming Clay Holmes and Michael King, could make them an attractive option for Sasaki, who has stated that his primary goal is pitching greatness over financial gain.
While Sasaki could announce his decision as soon as Wednesday, Wolfe has warned that a quick decision is unlikely. He has emphasized that Sasaki will prioritize a team’s pitching development when choosing where to sign, which aligns with McGonicle’s prediction.
