Roki Sasaki to Follow the Footsteps of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga? Japanese Super Talent’s Impending Posting Gets MLB Teams Excited

There’s no denying that Japan is currently the hotbed of baseball talents. From Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Shota Imanaga, some major game-changers have originated from that land. However, there’s one name that is still there- a pitcher who might arguably be one of the best in the world. And he’s just 22. That’s right, it’s Roki Sasaki – the scary fastball merchant who might be coming to the US earlier than expected.

During the 2023-24 offseason, rumors were flying all over the baseball world that Sasaki was interested in coming to Stateside before he was eligible to become an international free agent. In a move similar to Shohei Ohtani, Sasaki was seemingly more interested in testing himself, instead of directly jumping on a huge money deal. However, those talks never moved beyond words, and Sasaki remained in Japan. But that doesn’t mean he can’t come this year, especially, because rumblings are once again getting louder regarding his impending move.

Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reported that the MLB teams were already preparing for the arrival of Sasaki. Though there isn’t any clarity regarding his team or the Chiba Lotte Marines’ stance (they’d be losing a lot of potential if he gets posted earlier), one wonders whether Sasaki’s pressure might put them on an uneasy ground.

After all, if Roki Sasaki waits till 2026, he’d be 25 and eligible to enter as an international free agent. One could speculate that the deal might reach a whopping $300 million, providing the Marines with a posting fee exceeding $50 million. For a team whose entire payroll is nearly half this amount, that is a big talking point. Would they agree to sacrifice such a huge financial windfall and instead get a highly reduced figure in a minor league contract?

While that is an interesting question, the curiosity doesn’t end there. Just what makes Roki Sasaki so extraordinary? Why are teams so excited to make him a part of their organization?

Roki Sasaki – better than anything we’ve ever seen before?

There’s a term called “Video Game numbers” used for players having hilariously high-level stats. In the case of Sasaki, even that term feels like an understatement. In 2022, at just the age of 20, Sasaki set an NPB record with 17 consecutive perfect innings and 52 straight batters retired. On top of that, he had a 19-strikeout perfect game that year. With a 376-56 strikeout-to-walk ratio, he’s one of the most deadly pitchers in the sport currently.

But what makes him an even more highly sought-after pitcher is his age. Sasaki is even younger than Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Also, the easy adjustment of Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga has increased the team’s confidence in the Japanese pipeline. Certainly, it’ll be interesting to see where the cards will fall this time. Will we see Roki Sasaki in MLB, or will we have to wait a little more?