Coveted Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, the 23-year-old announced that he had signed a minor league contract with the organization.
Roki’s arrival in Los Angeles cements the city and the baseball franchise as MLB’s preferred destination for Japan’s top Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) players. Sasaki is the latest pitching sensation to pick the reigning World Series champions. The team attracted pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.
In the hours since Sasaki made his decision public, major league baseball players have shared their reactions to the move. However, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb’s apparent reaction to the news is one that stood out.
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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park. (Darren Yamashita-USA Today Sports)
The All-Star right-hander visited X on Friday and posted a GIF of “Space Jam.” The post featured a clip of the Monstars team along with the caption: “Time to play some basketball.”
In the movie, the Monstars were made up of a group that stole the talent of NBA players to effectively become a powerful super team.
WHO IS RŌKI SASAKI? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SENSATION OF THE JAPANESE PITCHER BOUND FOR THE MLB
The animated and live-action sports film was released in 1996 and starred Michael Jordan and several other NBA stars.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. While his recovery from injury prevented him from taking the pitcher’s mound in 2024, Ohtani hit a career-high 54 home runs in on his way to winning his third MVP Award.
FILE- A Los Angeles Dodgers helmet rests on the field before the Dodgers begin batting practice during the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA. (Hailey Archambault/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If Ohtani returns to the pitching mound sometime in 2025, he would be part of arguably the deepest and most formidable pitching rotation in the major leagues. The Dodgers’ projected pitching rotation already includes Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw. Gonsolin and May did not throw a pitch in MLB last season due to injury, and will likely have to return to the rotation.
Blake SnellA two-time Cy Young Award winner, he also signed with Los Angeles earlier this offseason.
Los Angeles lured first baseman Freddie Freeman away from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Freeman had already won a National League MVP award and a World Series title with Atlanta before signing with the Dodgers. Los Angeles’ lineup also includes 2019 American League MVP Mookie Betts and a host of other star hitters.
Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA during his four seasons playing at the highest level of baseball in Japan. His fastball routinely tops 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, reinforcing his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation.
Roki Sasaki, number 14 for Team Japan, reacts after an out in the third inning against Team Mexico during the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic at LoanDepot Park on March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
He played alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his representative agency in December during baseball’s winter meetings. In January, Sasaski narrowed his options to the Dodgers. Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, who ultimately chose Los Angeles.
Webb’s Giants also had a busy offseason, acquiring star shortstop Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency. San Francisco competes in the National League West and missed the playoffs last season. The Giants will have to deal with what is projected to be one of the best divisions in the MLB in 2025.
