Sasaki, 23, agreed to a deal with the Dodgers in January with a signing bonus reportedly worth $6.5 million. He pitched for Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines in 2024, posting a 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and recording 129 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched.
Inside the Dodgers’ seven-year pursuit of Rōki Sasaki, their foothold in Japan and the battle for MLB's next potential pitching star.
Last year was a year of transformation for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who rallied from a midseason injury to become the Dodgers' most reliable postseason starter.