Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki is back in his home country, mulling over the next phase of his process as he prepares to begin his Major League Baseball career. The 23-year-old met with what his agent described as “a set few number of teams” in recent weeks as the initial bidding commenced for the uber-talented right-hander.
Sasaki, who burst onto the scene with the Chiba Lotte Marines and established himself as one of the best pitchers in the world, is taking a methodical approach to selecting his MLB destination. Geography, market size, and even team pedigree are secondary considerations.
Long-Term Development Takes Priority
According to his agent Joel Wolfe, Sasaki’s primary focus is on long-term growth and pitching development. The young ace wants to understand how each organization plans to help him refine his craft and reach his immense potential over the course of his MLB career.
“He has a more long-term, global view of things. I believe Roki is also very interested in the pitching development and how a team is going to help him get better, both in the near future and over the course of his career.”
– Joel Wolfe, Wasserman Group
Teams Pull Out All the Stops
The courting of Sasaki has been intense, with approximately 20 teams expressing initial interest. Recruiting pitches flooded Wolfe’s offices, featuring elaborate presentations, personalized videos, and even custom-made books. Teams dedicated countless hours to researching Sasaki’s background and making their case to the coveted pitcher.
To level the playing field, Sasaki gave each team the same “homework assignment” – an opportunity to demonstrate their player development philosophies and analytical capabilities in a controlled manner. The process allowed teams to showcase their unique strengths while giving Sasaki key insights into how they operate.
Ohtani and Darvish Pave the Way
Sasaki’s decision to come to MLB at age 23 follows in the footsteps of countrymen like Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish, who also challenged themselves against the world’s best competition at a young age. Their successful transitions, along with Shota Imanaga’s strong rookie year with the Cubs in 2024, likely influenced Sasaki’s aggressive timeline.
- Shohei Ohtani signed with the Angels in 2017 at age 23
- Yu Darvish joined the Rangers in 2012 at age 25
- Shota Imanaga had an impressive debut with the Cubs in 2024 at age 29
While Sasaki could have waited two more years and pursued a massive free agent contract like Yoshinobu Yamamoto landed from the Dodgers, he opted for the more challenging path – betting on himself to adapt quickly and reap the long-term benefits of MLB’s superior player development resources.
Next Steps in the Process
Sasaki will take the next few weeks to digest the information gathered and determine his next steps. Additional meetings, city visits, or list-whittling could all be part of the final decision-making process.
“Roki is by no means a finished product. He knows it, and the teams know it. He’s incredibly talented; we all know that. But he is a guy that wants to be great. He’s not coming here just to be rich or get a huge contract. He wants to be great. He wants to be one of the greatest ever.”
– Joel Wolfe
One factor that could extend the process is the international bonus pool system. By waiting until after the January 15 deadline, teams could acquire up to 60% more bonus pool space to offer Sasaki via trade. But Wolfe noted that Sasaki may not wait that long if he finds the perfect fit.
Regardless of where he lands or when he puts pen to paper, Roki Sasaki’s MLB arrival will be a momentous occasion – the next great Japanese pitcher beginning his quest to join the ranks of the all-time greats. Teams are clamoring for the opportunity to help author that legacy.
