Roki Sasaki

Roki Sasaki Bio

Roki Sasaki is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has gained recognition for his remarkable talent, including a perfect game in 2022 and multiple All-Star selections. After making his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut in 2021 with the Chiba Lotte Marines, he transitioned to MLB in 2025, where he continues to showcase his skills on an international stage.

Early Life and Background

Roki Sasaki was born on November 3, 2001, in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan. He experienced a significant tragedy during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which resulted in the loss of his home and family members. Following this disaster, Sasaki and his family moved to Ōfunato, where he began playing baseball at his new school. He graduated from Ōfunato High School, where he developed his skills as a pitcher.

Path to Baseball

Despite being recruited by various high schools, Sasaki chose to stay with his teammates at Ofunato High School. He earned the nickname “the Monster of the Reiwa Era” due to his impressive fastball, which reached 101 miles per hour (163 km/h), breaking the previous high school record set by Shohei Ohtani. His performance garnered attention, and he was selected first overall in the 2019 NPB draft by the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Roki Sasaki Career

Early Career (2021-2024)

Sasaki made his NPB debut on May 16, 2021, for the Chiba Lotte Marines. In his first season, he recorded a 3–2 win-loss record with a 2.27 earned run average (ERA) and 68 strikeouts in 63+1⁄3 innings pitched. His breakout moment came on April 10, 2022, when he pitched a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes, tying the NPB record for strikeouts in a game with 19. He finished the 2022 season with a 9–4 record, a 2.02 ERA, and 173 strikeouts.

Breakthrough (2025)

On January 22, 2025, Sasaki signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, featuring a $6.5 million signing bonus. He made the Dodgers’ opening day roster and was announced as the starter for the second game of the season in the MLB Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs. In his debut, he allowed one run on one hit and five walks while striking out three. He earned his first major league win on May 3 against the Atlanta Braves.

Notable Works and Milestones

Sasaki’s career highlights include pitching a perfect game and being a two-time NPB All-Star. He also received the Chiba City Special Award for his impressive performance in 2022.