One theme about the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason following their successful 2024 MLB campaign is that the rich just keep on getting richer. Already stacked with superb talent, the Dodgers have added more big names to the fold, signing Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Hyeseong Kim among their shiny new weapons.
But no one is shinier among the Dodgers newcomers than Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who decided to bring his talents to Los Angeles. The Dodgers were not without competition for Sasaki’s signature, but he ultimately picked the team where he could join fellow Japanese stars in Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11).
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Ohtani reportedly played a huge role in the Dodgers’ recruitment of Sasaki, the 23-year-old pitching phenom, who posted a 29-15 record and 2.10 ERA in 64 appearances in the Nippon Professional Baseball.
Ohtani also recently revealed his message was to Sasaki just before the latter picked the Dodgers.
“What I actually told him before signing was that as a player and as a person I’m just rooting for him to be successful on whatever team he ends up, but of course I wanted him to be a Dodger,” the reigning National League Most Valuable Player said via an interpreter (h/t Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation).
With Sasaki now a Dodger, he and Ohtani help form an intimidating rotation that also features Yamamoto, Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
Ohtani did not see action on the mound in 2024, but is expected to pitch in 2025 for the Dodgers, who were 19th last season with a 4.23 starters’ ERA.
