The U.S. local evaluation of “national 160-kilometer fireballer” Rocky Sasaki (23), who challenged the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) stage, is remarkable.
The Major League’s official website, MLB.com , released Sasaki’s scouting report on Wednesday (Korea time). Sasaki is seeking to advance to the Major League through a posting system (closed competitive bidding).
Sasaki joined the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2020 and played for the fifth season this year. Above all, she garnered recognition for her talent by throwing fast balls up to 165 kilometers. She posted 29 wins and 15 losses and an earned run average of 2.10 in 64 matches in her professional career. She played 10 wins and 5 losses and an earned run average of 2.35.
In particular, Sasaki remains the youngest player (20 years and five months) in Japanese baseball history to play a perfect game. On April 10, 2022, he set a new record of 13 consecutive strikeouts for the first time among the three batters in Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and achieved a perfect game with a total of 19 strikeouts. It was the 16th perfect game in 28 years since 1994 in the Japanese pro baseball league. At that time, Sasaki posted a maximum speed of 164 km in fastball. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he pitched in two games, winning with a 3.52 ERA, contributing to Japan’s victory. 안전놀이터
He is already receiving positive feedback from the U.S. MLB.com quoted an international scout as saying, “Sasaki is as good a starting pitcher as he is known. He has excellent arm movements and pitching movements, and he has strong pitching capabilities that can control more than three pitches. He has the best potential.”
Another scout praised Sasaki as “the best starting pitcher. He is a pitcher who can match Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers.”
The media reported, “Sasaki’s fastball shows at least 70 points and rare 80 points on the 20-80 scale (the scouts’ scoring method is the lowest 20 points and the highest 80 points).” 70 points are evaluated as talented players with the top 2.2 percent and 80 points as the top 0.1 percent.
Of course, Sasaki’s dream is to take the mound in the Major League. Initially, the Chiba Lotte Club did not allow Sasaki to go to the U.S. According to the U.S.-Japan professional baseball agreement, a Japanese player under the age of 25 is only allowed to sign a minor league contract. Since it is not a free agent contract, Chiba Lotte could not accept Sasaki’s willingness to challenge himself as he could not afford to pocket a lot of money.
However, as the club respects Sasaki’s intention, it will pave the way for him to play in the U.S. in a surprise move. For now, the down payment will be limited to 7 million U.S. dollars in accordance with international amateur contract rules. He also has to earn the lowest annual salary in the Major League for three years.
Then, how much would Sasaki have been treated if he had entered the U.S. as an FA? “He could receive 275 million U.S. dollars to 300 million dollars for 10 years,” a scout said. “There is no limit to Sasaki’s potential.” The total amount is comparable to Yamamoto Yoshinobu (26), who joined the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. Yamamoto signed a 325 million-dollar contract and joined the LA Dodgers in 2012.
The media said, “For Sasaki, scouts believe that they will be more successful than teenage players who are in the top 50 in 2025. I don’t know until the first starter of the 2025 season opener, but I think I can join the starting rotation. If he is posted, he will be evaluated as the best international prospect.”
