Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s NPB, is expected to make a significant impact in Major League Baseball next season. Sasaki is being posted and will be eligible to move to the U.S. in 2025, with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirming that he’ll be part of the 2025 international signing class. He’ll be able to sign with a team after January 15, when the new MLB international signing period begins.
While many have speculated that Sasaki could join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto with the Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB insider and former GM Jim Bowden disagrees. Bowden believes there’s an 85% chance Sasaki will not sign with the Dodgers. One major factor in his decision is the challenge Sasaki might face in securing lucrative endorsement deals while competing with Ohtani and Yamamoto.
Instead, Bowden predicts Sasaki could land with the Boston Red Sox, but he also sees a potential fit with the Atlanta Braves. Bowden highlighted the Braves’ strong track record in developing starting pitchers, which could help Sasaki reach new heights in his already impressive career. He also mentioned other teams like the Padres, Rays, and Mets, who have strong pitching development systems, as possible suitors for Sasaki.
With Max Fried likely departing, the Braves could have a rotation spot available for Sasaki. Over four seasons in NPB, Sasaki has posted a 2.10 ERA, a 0.894 WHIP, and 505 strikeouts in 394 2/3 innings. He’s a two-time NPB All-Star, holds the record for most strikeouts in an NPB game (19), and threw a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in 2022.
