Coveted Japanese-born pitcher Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, the 23-year-old announced he had signed a minor league contract with the organization.
Roki’s arrival in Los Angeles solidifies the city and the baseball franchise as the preferred MLB destination for top players in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Sasaki is the latest pitching sensation to pick the defending World Series champions. The team attracted pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.
In the hours since Sasaki made his decision public, big league baseball players have shared their reactions to the decision. However, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb’s apparent reaction to the news is notable.
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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park. (Darren Yamashita-USA Today Sports)
The All-Star right-hander visited X on Friday and posted a GIF of “Space Jam.” The post featured a clip of the Monstars team with the caption “Time to play some basketball.”
In the movie, the Monstars consisted of a group that stole the talents of NBA players to effectively become a powerful super team.
WHO IS ROKI SASAKI? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE JAPANESE PITCHING SENSATION LINKED TO MLB
The live-action and animated sports film was released in 1996 and starred Michael Jordan and several other NBA stars.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. While his recovery from injury kept him from taking the mound in 2024, Ohtani hit a career-high 54 home runs on his way to winning his third. MVP Award.
FILE- A Los Angeles Dodgers helmet rests on the field before the Dodgers begin batting practice during the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Hailey Archambault/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If Ohtani takes the mound again at some point in 2025, he would arguably be part of the deepest and most formidable pitching rotation in the major leagues. The Dodgers’ projected pitching rotation already includes Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw. Gonsolin and May didn’t throw a pitch in MLB last season due to injury, and they will likely need to be reinstated in the rotation.
Blake Snella two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with Los Angeles earlier this offseason.
Los Angeles lured first baseman Freddie Freeman away from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Freeman had already won a National League MVP award and a World Series title with Atlanta before signing with the Dodgers. Los Angeles’ roster also features 2019 American League MVP Mookie Betts and a host of other star hitters.
Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA in his four seasons at the highest level of baseball in Japan. His fastball regularly reaches 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which furthers his potential to become an ace in a pitching rotation.
Roki Sasaki, #14 of Team Japan, reacts after a groundout in the third inning against Team Mexico during the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic at LoanDepot Park on March 20, 2023, in Miami, Florida. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
He played alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his representative agency in December during baseball’s winter meetings. In January, Sasaski limited his choices to the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres – ultimately choosing Los Angeles.
Webb’s Giants also had a busy offseason, acquiring star shortstop Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency. San Francisco competes in the NL West and missed the playoffs last season. The Giants will face what should be one of the best divisions in MLB in 2025.
