EXCLUSIVE: Baseball Expert Jim Callis Picks 22YO Japanese Star Over Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Predicts He Will Match Shohei Ohtani’s Rare Feat

There’s something about the air in Japan. Maybe that is why they keep producing generational talents. It was only a few years ago that Shohei Ohtani took the world by storm. We had barely recovered when Yoshinobu Yamamoto entered like a rockstar. Now another one by the name of Roki Sasaki could be preparing to make his grand entrance in 2024. During an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, MLB analyst Jim Callis shared his feelings regarding the prospects of Sasaki. 

At just 21, Sasaki has established himself as a force to reckon with. With several NPB and World Records already to his name, one wonders just how far this young man will go. While the Japanese stars dominated the 2023 offseason, if Callis is to be believed, Sasaki could rival Yamamoto’s craze in 2024.

MLB Insider Jim Callis thinks Roki Sasaki is “ahead” 

Every year several exciting prospects enter the scene. A rare few NPB players get posted before they’re eligible for free agency. Shohei Ohtani was one such player, and it’s looking likely that Roki Sasaki might become another one soon. During an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports’ Mohsin Baldiwala, Jim Callis noted just how special Sasaki is. 

“He’s (Roki Sasaki) the best pitcher in the world who is not in the US Major League. I think Sasaki would be ahead of Yamamoto, I do and I like Yamamoto. Yamamoto’s really good. But I could just say, if Sasaki does get posted and signs? Then I bet he’s number 1 on our top 100 prospects list next year just like Ohtani was.” Callis declared.

Unlike Yamamoto, if Sasaki enters next year, he won’t be eligible for a free-agent deal. Instead, he’d be a prospect and offered a minor-league contract. So while Yamamoto’s record is safe, one can expect a huge rush to sign the 22-year-old. In his brief three-year career, Sasaki has already captured most of the world’s attention.

Sasaki has consistently shown his ability to throw a fastball that crosses the 100 mph mark and currently holds the record for the fastest pitch thrown in NPB with 102.5 mph alongside none other than Shohei Ohtani. The pitcher first came into the limelight during the WBC, where his extraordinary speed forced a few MLB executives to compare him to Stephen Strasburg.

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With such talent, it’s not a surprise that analysts are already comparing him to Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In an unprecedented event, half of the league approached Yamamoto before his deal with the LA Dodgers. Could Sasaki recreate the same just a year later? Only time will tell.

Read more: EXCLUSIVE: Top MLB Analyst Opens Up on Shohei Ohtani’s Historic Deferrals, Credits LA Dodgers for Smart Move