Roki Sasaki: Everything We Know About the Dodgers' Japanese Star

LOS ANGELES, Friday, October 31, 2025 — The name Roki Sasaki has become one of the most talked-about in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sasaki is a right-handed pitcher who joined the team for the 2025 season. Fans and experts alike call him a once-in-a-generation talent.

The Rise of a Japanese Phenom

Sasaki, who was born on November 3, 2001, in Rikuzentakata, Japan, earned a huge nickname early in his career: “the Monster of the Reiwa Era.” This nickname compares him to another famous Japanese pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was called the “Monster of the Heisei Era.”

His path to baseball fame started in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2021 to 2024. During his time there, Sasaki was a dominant force.

In 2022, he did something amazing. He pitched a perfect game on April 10. A perfect game means no opposing batter reaches any base.
In that same game, he tied the NPB record with 19 strikeouts. He also set a world record with 13 consecutive strikeouts in one game.
In 2023, he was part of the winning Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). He helped his team beat the United States in the final game.

His numbers in Japan were impressive. Before moving to the MLB, his career NPB statistics included a 29–15 win-loss record, a 2.10 Earned Run Average (ERA), and 505 strikeouts.

The Move to Los Angeles

Sasaki was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in November 2024. This made him available to MLB teams. Because he was under 25, he had to sign as an international amateur free agent. This rule meant his initial contract was very different from what a veteran player would get.

On January 22, 2025, Sasaki officially signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His contract included a $6.5 million signing bonus.
It was a minor league deal, which is standard for international players under 25. His 2025 salary was around the league minimum for a player on the Major League roster.
This signing was a huge bargain for the Dodgers. Experts felt his skill was worth much more on the open market. This was a similar path to the one Shohei Ohtani took when he first came to the MLB.

Sasaki made the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster in 2025. He made his MLB debut as a starter in the second game of the season, during the MLB Tokyo Series in March.

Personal and Pitching Details

Sasaki is listed at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 187 pounds. He is a right-handed pitcher with a powerful arm.

His fastball can reach speeds of over 102 miles per hour.
His forkball/splitter is known as his best off-speed pitch. He also throws a curveball and a slider.

His early life was marked by a great tragedy. When he was nine, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami hit his hometown. His family’s house was destroyed. He lost his father and both of his grandparents in the disaster. He, his mother, and his two brothers moved to a nursing home during the recovery. He began playing baseball at his new school the following year.

His 2025 MLB Season

Sasaki’s first year in the MLB has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He started the season with a 1–1 win-loss record and a 4.46 ERA in 10 regular-season games.

However, he dealt with some injuries during the season. This affected his performance. Later in the year, he spent time with the Dodgers’ Triple-A team to get his strength and pitching velocity back.

In a surprise move, the Dodgers shifted Sasaki to the bullpen for the 2025 Postseason. This change proved to be very important. Manager Dave Roberts has been using Sasaki as a high-leverage reliever and closer.

In the Postseason, Sasaki has been brilliant. He has recorded three saves and has a very low 0.93 ERA in eight appearances.
His success as a closer has made him a key player in the Dodgers’ push for a championship.

The young star continues to impress the baseball world. He is still considered one of the sport’s top prospects. His future as either a starting pitcher or a closer looks very bright for the Los Angeles Dodgers.