Roki Sasaki
Overview
Roki Sasaki (佐々木朗希, Roki Sasaki) is a right-handed hard-throwing pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). On April 10, 2022, at the age of 19, he threw a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes, etching his name into Japanese baseball history. His primary weapons are a fastball reaching 163 km/h (approximately 101.3 mph) and a sharp forkball, earning him the reputation as "Japan's next ace." After the 2024 season, he is expected to apply for the posting system to move to Major League Baseball, drawing the attention of baseball fans worldwide.
Main Content
Early Life and Amateur Career
Roki Sasaki was born on November 3, 2001, in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. He started baseball in the third grade of elementary school and gained attention as a hard-throwing pitcher during junior high school. In high school at Ofunato, he recorded a top speed of 154 km/h, emerging as a top prospect in Japanese high school baseball. In the 2019 NPB draft, he was selected as the first-round pick by the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Professional Debut and Growth
In his rookie season of 2020, he did not pitch in the top league due to an elbow injury, but after his top-league debut in 2021, he posted a 2.27 ERA over 11 games, proving his potential. In the 2022 season, he joined the starting rotation full-time and threw a perfect game against Orix on April 10 at the age of 19 years and 5 months. This was the 16th perfect game in NPB history and the first by a player within three years of graduating high school. On April 17 of the same year, he recorded 13 consecutive strikeouts against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, setting an NPB record.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Roki Sasaki's greatest strength is his four-seam fastball, which consistently exceeds 160 km/h. His top recorded speed is 163 km/h (set in 2022), and he maintains an average velocity above 157 km/h. He complements this with a forkball in the upper 140 km/h range, a slider, and a curveball, overwhelming hitters. His forkball, in particular, has a large drop and a high whiff rate, earning the nickname "Devil Fork." His command is also solid, and he boasts an elite strikeout rate with a K/9 over 11.0.
Major Records and Awards
- 2022: Perfect game (16th in history), 13 consecutive strikeouts (NPB record)
- 2022: All-Star Game starter, Pacific League strikeout champion (173)
- 2023: Selected for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Japan national team, championship member
- 2023: NPB MVP candidate, ERA 1.96
- 2024: Through mid-season, 10 wins, 3 losses, ERA 2.35
Potential Move to Major League Baseball
Roki Sasaki is expected to move to Major League Baseball via the posting system after the 2024 season. Although he has not met the NPB requirement for overseas eligibility (7 years), the Chiba Lotte organization is likely to grant special permission. MLB scouts rate his potential as "generational," and he is considered a prospect who could make an Opening Day roster in 2025. Several teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres, have shown interest.
Latest Developments
In the 2024 season, as of August, Roki Sasaki has an 8-4 record with a 2.60 ERA over 15 games. On July 27, he pitched 7 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts against the SoftBank Hawks. In August 2024, Japanese media reported that he would apply for posting after the season, and the Chiba Lotte organization is reportedly considering this positively. If he transfers to MLB, he is likely to join spring camp in 2025, with a contract expected to exceed $100 million. He is also a strong candidate for major awards at the NPB awards ceremony scheduled for December 2024.
Related Topics
- [[Shohei Ohtani]]
- [[Yoshinobu Yamamoto]]
- [[NPB Pacific League]]
- [[Perfect game]]
- [[Posting system]]
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