:Roki Sasaki

{{Infobox NPB player

| image = 佐々木朗希 MLB Tokyo Series by Guggenheim Pre-season games Los Angeles Dodgers vs 読売ジャイアンツ東京ドーム 2025年3月15日の東京 202503151741 DSCN2909.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Sasaki in March 2025

| position = Pitcher

| team = Los Angeles Dodgers

| number = 11

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|11|3}}

| birth_place = Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan

| debutleague = NPB

| debutdate = May 16

| debutyear = 2021

| debut2league = MLB

| debut2date = March 19

| debut2year = 2025

| debut2team = Los Angeles Dodgers

| debutteam = Chiba Lotte Marines

| statyear = 2024 season

| statleague = NPB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 29–15

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 2.10

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 505

| stat2year = May 10, 2025

| stat2league = MLB

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 1–1

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 4.72

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 24

| teams =

Chiba Lotte Marines ({{npby|2021}}–{{npby|2024}})
Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

| awards = ;NPB

Pitched a perfect game on April 10, 2022
2× NPB All-Star ({{npby|2022}}, {{npby|2023}})
Chiba City Special Award "New Era Hometown Impressive Award" (2022){{cite web | url=https://www.chibanippo.co.jp/sports/lotte/926313 | title=【速報】千葉市、ロッテ朗希と松川に感動賞「千葉移転３０周年の偉業、感慨深い」 }}

;NPB/World records

19 Strikeouts in a single game (NPB record)
13 Consecutive Strikeouts in a single game (World record)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's baseball}}

{{Medal|Country|{{bb|JPN}}}}

}}

{{nihongo|Roki Sasaki|佐々木朗希|Sasaki Rōki|extra=born November 3, 2001|lead=yes}}, nicknamed {{nihongo|"the Monster of the Reiwa Era"|令和の怪物|Reiwa no Kaibutsu}}, is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines. He made his NPB debut in 2021 for the Marines and signed with the Dodgers in 2025.

Sasaki set a new Japanese high school baseball record with a fastball recorded at {{convert|163|km/h|order=flip}}. The Marines chose Sasaki in the first overall selection of the 2019 NPB draft. Taking care to avoid subjecting their rookie to premature physical stresses, the Marines held back until the 2021 season before allowing him to make his NPB debut. He threw a perfect game on April 10, 2022, in which he tied the NPB record for strikeouts in one game and set a new record for consecutive strikeouts.

Early life

Sasaki is from Rikuzentakata in the Iwate Prefecture. Born in 2001, he was named after the villain Rouki from Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger, a Super Sentai show that was aired in the same year.[https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/highschool/news/201907180001086.html 佐々木朗希の名はかっこいいガオレンジャー悪役由来][https://news.nifty.com/article/item/neta/12189-2242716/ WBC日本優勝で「ガオレンジャー」がトレンド入り　佐々木朗希の名前の由来が…] He was in the third grade during the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. The resulting tsunami swept away his house. His father and grandparents died, while Sasaki, his mother, and his two brothers had to live in a nursing home during the recovery.{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/ae31ca4d86e6-baseball-marines-sasaki-thankful-for-support-after-2011-disaster.html |title=Baseball: Marines' Roki Sasaki thankful for support after 2011 disaster |publisher=English.kyodonews.net |date= |accessdate=April 10, 2022}}{{cite web|author=Jim Allen |url=https://jballallen.com/sasaki-poised-for-1st-game/ |title=Sasaki poised for 1st game |publisher=jballallen.com |date=March 11, 2021 |accessdate=April 10, 2022}} The family moved to Ōfunato the next year and Sasaki began to play baseball at his new school. He graduated from Ōfunato High School.{{cite news |last1=Saori |first1=Kuroda |title=佐々木朗希投手だけじゃない、大船渡に寄付続々ゆかりがなくても：朝日新聞 |url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/AST370D6VT37OXIE029M.html?iref=com_topics_693be26a-e4f0-4717-9391-9bd4f3ca195e_news_article_list_3 |access-date=March 7, 2025 |work=The Asahi Shimbun |date=March 7, 2025 |language=ja}}

Amateur career

Though other high schools recruited Sasaki, he chose to attend Ofunato High School to remain with his teammates. He was nicknamed "the Monster of the Reiwa Era" ({{transliteration|ja|Reiwa no Kaibutsu}} {{lang|ja|令和の怪物}}) because of his {{convert|163|km/h|adj=on|abbr=on|order=flip}} fastball in high school.{{cite web|url=https://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20200610/mar20061013000002-n1.html|title = 【球界ここだけの話（１９９０）】ロッテ・佐々木朗の無限の可能性|website=Sanspo.com| language=Japanese|date = June 10, 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/v4?id=201907sasakirouki0001 | title=「令和の怪物」佐々木朗希が挑む最後の夏１６３キロ右腕の潜在能力 | website=Jiji.com | language=Japanese | date=July 12, 2019 | access-date=May 1, 2020 }} His fastball velocity broke the Japanese high school record set by Shohei Ohtani, and Sasaki began to earn comparisons to Ohtani.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-07-25/rouki-sasaki-japanese-pitcher-next-ohtani|title=Japanese teen's triple-digit fastball has some calling him the next Shohei Ohtani|date=July 26, 2019|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=April 10, 2022}} His nickname is a reference to Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was known as "the Monster of the Heisei Era".{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202202100000811.html|publisher=Nikkan Sports|date=February 11, 2022|title=平成の怪物と令和の怪物初対面松坂大輔氏にロッテ佐々木朗希「ブルペン見た感想教わりました」|author=Yoshimi Kamada}}

Major League Baseball (MLB) teams hoped that Sasaki would pursue an MLB career, but he opted to remain with his high school team during the Japanese High School Baseball Championship.{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/07/b04a4e765e7f-baseball-highly-sought-japanese-high-school-pitcher-sasaki-hits-160-kph.html |title=Baseball: Highly sought Japanese high school pitcher Roki Sasaki hits 160 kph |publisher=English.kyodonews.net |date= |accessdate=April 10, 2022}} Sasaki's manager rested him in the qualifying game where Ofunato was eliminated, drawing criticism.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/give-break-japanese-coach-takes-heat-resting-ace-64672747|title=Give me a break: Japanese coach takes heat for resting ace|website=ABC News}} Sasaki announced that he would pitch in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), declaring for the NPB draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/10/02/baseball/japanese-baseball/high-school-ace-roki-sasaki-declares-npb-draft/ |title=High school ace Roki Sasaki declares for NPB draft |publisher=The Japan Times |date=October 2, 2019 |accessdate=April 10, 2022}}

Professional career

=Chiba Lotte Marines=

==2019–2021==

After four teams attempted to select Sasaki in the 2019 NPB draft, the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB's Pacific League won the lottery for the rights to the first overall selection, and selected Sasaki.{{cite web| url=http://draft.npb.jp/draft/2019/draftlist_m.html | title=千葉ロッテマリーンズ選択選手一覧 | work=Draft.npb.jp| language=Japanese| access-date=May 1, 2020 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/10/17/baseball/japanese-baseball/marines-make-high-school-hurler-roki-sasaki-top-pick-npb-amateur-draft/ |title=Marines make high school hurler Roki Sasaki top pick in NPB amateur draft |publisher=The Japan Times |date=October 17, 2019|accessdate=April 12, 2022}} He received a signing bonus of {{JPYConvert|100|m|2019}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbsc.org/en/news/chiba-lotte-pitcher-roki-sasaki-throws-first-npb-perfect-game-in-28-years-breaks-world-record-with-13-consecutive-strikeouts|title=Chiba Lotte pitcher Roki Sasaki throws first NPB perfect game in 28 years, breaks world record with 13 consecutive strikeouts|website=World Baseball Softball Confederation}} To protect his arm, the Marines did not allow Sasaki to appear in a game during the 2020 season. He made his NPB debut on May 16, 2021.{{cite web|last=Coskrey |first=Jason |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/05/17/baseball/japanese-baseball/sasaki-makes-npb-debut/ |title=Roki Sasaki makes highly anticipated NPB debut with Marines |publisher=The Japan Times |date=May 17, 2021 |accessdate=April 10, 2022}} For the 2021 season, Sasaki had a 3–2 win–loss record, a 2.27 earned run average (ERA), and 68 strikeouts in {{frac|63|1|3}} innings pitched across 11 appearances. Sasaki made his postseason debut for the Marines in the 2021 Pacific League Climax Series, striking out 10 batters while allowing one run in six innings, as Lotte defeated the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.{{cite web|last=Coskrey |first=Jason |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/11/07/baseball/japanese-baseball/marines-roki-sasaki/ |title='Reiwa Monster' Roki Sasaki lives up to hype in Climax Series debut |publisher=The Japan Times |date=November 7, 2021 |accessdate=April 10, 2022}}

==2022 season==

File:CHIBA LOTTE Sasaki Roki 20220424.jpg

On April 10, 2022, Sasaki pitched a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes. It was the 16th perfect game in NPB history, the first since Hiromi Makihara's perfect game in 1994, and the 94th no-hitter in NPB history, the first since August 15, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2022/04/10/baseball/japanese-baseball/lotte-roki-sasaki-perfect-game/ |title=Lotte pitcher Roki Sasaki throws Japan's 16th perfect game |publisher=The Japan Times |date=April 10, 2022 |accessdate=April 10, 2022}} Sasaki tied the NPB record set by Koji Noda for total strikeouts in one game, with 19, and set a new NPB record for consecutive strikeouts, having struck out 13 batters in a row.{{cite web |title=Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, 20, throws 19-strikeout perfect game in record-setting performance |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33712602/japanese-phenom-roki-sasaki-20-throws-19-strikeout-perfect-game-record-setting-performance |website=ESPN |access-date=April 10, 2022 |ref=espn-13record |language=English |date=April 10, 2022 |quote=Sasaki, a right-hander for the Chiba Lotte Marines, tied an NPB record with his 19 strikeouts against the Orix Buffaloes. According to Kyodo News, he also struck out 13 consecutive batters at one point, a record in Japanese pro baseball.}} This also became a new world record, beating out the 10 consecutive strikeouts achieved in MLB by Corbin Burnes, Tom Seaver, and Aaron Nola.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/11/sports/baseball/roki-sasaki-perfect-game.html |title=Roki Sasaki of Japan Strikes Out 19 in Perfect Game - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=April 10, 2022 |accessdate=April 17, 2022}}

In his next start, on April 17, Sasaki pitched eight perfect innings against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, before getting taken out from the game before the ninth inning by manager Tadahito Iguchi to protect Sasaki's health. He recorded 14 strikeouts on 102 pitches, including striking out the side in the eighth inning with a 101 mph fastball.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33755234/japanese-pitching-phenom-roki-sasaki-20-extends-streak-17-consecutive-perfect-innings|title=Japanese phenom extends perfect innings streak|date=April 17, 2022|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=April 17, 2022}} Sasaki finished the outing having retired 52 consecutive batters, setting an NPB record. The MLB record for retiring consecutive batters is 46 by Yusmeiro Petit.{{cite web|last=Axisa |first=Mike |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/japanese-phenom-roki-sasaki-throws-eight-perfect-innings-in-first-start-after-19-strikeout-perfect-game/ |title=Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki throws eight perfect innings in first start after 19-strikeout perfect game |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=April 17, 2022 |accessdate=April 17, 2022}} Sasaki allowed a hit on the first pitch that he threw in his next game, on April 24.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/japanese-phenom-roki-sasaki-has-streak-of-17-consecutive-perfect-innings-snapped-on-first-pitch-of-start/|title=Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki has streak of 17 consecutive perfect innings snapped on first pitch of start|first=Mike|last=Axisa|work=CBS Sports|date=April 24, 2022|accessdate=April 24, 2022}} He finished the season 9–4 with a 2.02 ERA and 173 strikeouts in {{frac|129|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/who-is-roki-sasaki|title='It's as if he's throwing his soul': Get to know Japanese ace Roki Sasaki|website=MLB.com}}

==2023–2024==

On April 28, 2023, Sasaki threw 4 pitches at a speed of 165 km/h (102.5 mph), which tied the record held by Shohei Ohtani for the fastest pitch by a Japanese player in NPB history.{{cite web | url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bc2cfca364f5a75f1c4bfb9ac786cfd2b6204f62 | title=佐々木朗希が１６５キロを４発！気迫の投球で勝ち越し許さず７回３失点大谷と並ぶＮｐｂ日本人最速タイ記録（デイリースポーツ） }} In the 2023 season, he was 7–4 with a 1.78 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 91 innings{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sasaki000rok|title=Roki Sasaki Japanese League Statistics|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=January 18, 2025}} and he followed that up with a 10–5 record, 2.35 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings in 2024. On November 8, 2024, the Marines posted Sasaki to allow him to pursue an opportunity with Major League Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Japanese ace Sasaki heading to MLB next season|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/roki-sasaki-major-league-posting|access-date=November 8, 2024|website=MLB.com|language=en}}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On January 22, 2025, Sasaki signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which featured a $6.5 million signing bonus. Because he was under the age of 25 at the time, regulations required that he had to sign a minor league deal.{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Sonja |last2=Adler |first2=David |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Japanese phenom Sasaki picks the Dodgers |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/roki-sasaki-contract-with-dodgers |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6071231/2025/01/18/roki-sasaki-dodgers-inside-signing-selection-process/|title=‘The homework assignment’: Inside the final weeks of the chase for Roki Sasaki|work=The Athletic|first=Fabian|last=Ardaya|accessdate=January 22, 2025|date=January 18, 2025}} Shortly after his signing, Baseball America and MLB.com both named him the No. 1 prospect in MLB entering the 2025 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2025-top-100-prospects/|title=2025 Top 100 Prospects|work=Baseball America|date=January 22, 2025|accessdate=January 22, 2025}}{{Cite web |last=Cassavell |first=A.J. |date=January 24, 2025 |title=With Sasaki No. 1 overall, LA boasts 6 on new Top 100 Prospects list |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-2025-top-100-prospects |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

Sasaki made the Dodgers' opening day roster and was announced as the starter for the second game of the season in the MLB Tokyo Series 2025 against the Chicago Cubs on March 19, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-2025-opening-day-roster|title=Dodgers set roster on eve of Tokyo Series opener|first=Soja|last=Chen|work=mlb.com|date=March 17, 2025|accessdate=March 17, 2025}} In his debut, he allowed one run on one hit and five walks while striking out three. His first MLB strikeout was of Seiya Suzuki.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401694908|title=Dodgers vs Cubs May 19 2025 box score|work=ESPN|accessdate=March 19, 2025}} Sasaki earned his first major league win on May 3 against the Atlanta Braves.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/roki-sasaki-earns-first-mlb-win-vs-braves|title=Sasaki earns 1st win with help from Ohtani and Co.|first=Rick|last=Farlow|work=mlb.com|date=May 4, 2025|accessdate=May 4, 2025}}

On May 13, 2025, Sasaki was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder impingement.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/roki-sasaki-placed-on-injured-list|title=Roki Sasaki lands on injured list with shoulder impingement|work=MLB.com|first=Kyle|last=Glaser|date=May 13, 2025|accessdate=May 13, 2025}}

International career

Sasaki pitched for the Japanese national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35896975/pitcher-roki-sasaki-21-start-japan-wbc-semifinal|title=P Sasaki, 21, will start for Japan in WBC semifinal|date=March 19, 2023|website=ESPN}} He made his first start of the competition on March 11 against the Czech Republic, pitching {{frac|3|2|3}} innings while giving up two hits, an unearned run, two walks, and recording eight strikeouts.{{cite web |title=Czech Republic 2-10 Japan |url=https://www.espn.com/world-baseball-classic/game/_/gameId/401500648 |website=ESPN |access-date=July 6, 2023 |date=March 11, 2023}} On March 20, he started in Japan's WBC semifinal game against Mexico, pitching for four innings while giving up five hits, three runs, and recording three strikeouts.{{cite web |title=Mexico 5-6 Japan |url=https://www.espn.com/world-baseball-classic/game/_/gameId/401507522 |website=ESPN |access-date=July 6, 2023 |date=March 20, 2023}} He finished the tournament at 1–0 with a 3.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts across {{frac|7|2|3}} innings, receiving a gold medal in Japan's championship victory over the United States.{{cite web |title=2023 WBC Player Pitching Stats |url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/pitching |website=World Baseball Classic |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |access-date=July 6, 2023}}

Sasaki's performance in the 2023 WBC received international media attention. In his start against Mexico, his average four-seam fastball velocity was {{convert|100.5|mph|abbr=on}} and topped out at {{convert|101.9|mph|abbr=on}}. His split-finger fastball averaged {{convert|91.2|mph|abbr=on}} and generated {{convert|31.4|in}} of vertical break.{{cite news |last1=Adler |first1=David |title=Roki Sasaki's stuff is as amazing as we thought |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/breaking-down-roki-sasaki-s-statcast-data |access-date=July 6, 2023 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=March 22, 2023}} Three Major League Baseball executives compared Sasaki's abilities at age 21 to those of Stephen Strasburg, who was selected first overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft and was considered one of the most anticipated prospects in the league's history.{{cite news |last1=Glaser |first1=Kyle |title=Roki Sasaki Is About To Get His Close-Up At The World Baseball Classic |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/roki-sasaki-is-about-to-get-his-close-up-at-the-world-baseball-classic/ |access-date=July 6, 2023 |work=Baseball America |date=March 20, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Crasnick |first1=Jerry |title=Bryce Harper, you're next |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&page=starting9/10601 |access-date=July 6, 2023 |work=ESPN |date=June 2, 2010}}

Playing style

Sasaki is listed as {{convert|6|ft|2|in|adj=on}} and {{convert|187|lbs|adj=on}}.{{Cite web |title=Roki Sasaki Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/roki-sasaki-808963 |access-date=March 6, 2025 |publisher=Major League Baseball}} A right-handed pitcher with a three-quarters delivery,{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/sports/267383|title=専門家が徹底解剖佐々木朗希「163キロ直球」を生かす秘策｜日刊ゲンダイDIGITAL|website=Nikkan-gendai.com|date=January 14, 2020 | language=Japanese|access-date=April 6, 2022}} he throws a fastball topping out at {{convert|165|km/h|mph|1|abbr=on|order=flip}}.{{Cite web|url=https://full-count.jp/2023/03/04/post1344822/|title=佐々木朗希が日本人最速タイの165キロ！並ばれた大谷翔平はベンチで思わず笑顔|date=March 4, 2023|website=Full-Count（フルカウント） ― 野球ニュース・速報・コラム ―}} In the 2022 season, his fastball averaged {{convert|158.3|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip}} as a starter.{{cite web | url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/202209270000046.html | title=【ロッテ】佐々木朗希の今季成績一覧年間直球平均158．３キロ 20試合で９勝４敗 - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ }} He also throws a forkball, a curveball, and a slider.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nippon.com/ja/news/fnn20220327330896/|title=【独占】160キロ連発ロッテ佐々木朗希のストレートの極意に迫る！「プロスピA」風に球種を自己査定|date=March 27, 2022|website=nippon.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.daily.co.jp/opinion-d/camera/2020/03/28/0013229113.shtml|title = ロッテ・佐々木朗希、速球だけではない高度な投球術カメラマンが捉えたその瞬間/デイリースポーツ |website=Daily.co.jp|date = May 26, 2023 | language=Japanese}} The forkball is the best off-speed pitch in his arsenal.{{Cite web|url=https://full-count.jp/2022/04/21/post1209763/|title=佐々木朗希を米メディア"徹底解剖" 数年後の予習「世界一の投手になる可能性」|date=April 21, 2022|website=Full-Count（フルカウント） ― 野球ニュース・速報・コラム ―}}{{cite web | last=Perry | first=Dayn | title=Roki Sasaki's MLB negotiating window reportedly opens this week, but don't expect a signing until 2025 | website=CBSSports.com | date=December 7, 2024 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/roki-sasakis-mlb-negotiating-window-reportedly-opens-this-week-but-dont-expect-a-signing-until-2025/ | access-date=January 25, 2025}}