THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 9, 2024 at 17:52 JST
Roki Sasaki of Japan pitches during their Pool B game against the Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 11, 2023. (AP file photo)
CHIBA--Japanese ace Roki Sasaki will be available to Major League Baseball teams this offseason.
The Chiba Lotte Marines announced Saturday they have chosen to start the process of moving the pitcher to a big league club in North America via the posting system.
The right-hander, who turned 23 this month, is expected to become one of the most sought-after pitchers on the open market. He went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games this year, striking out 129 hitters in 111 innings.
Because he is younger than 25, Sasaki will be classified as an international amateur free agent subject to international bonus pool limits, according to MLB rules. That means his first contract would be a minor league deal no larger than seven figures.
The Marines will receive a percentage fee for posting him, with the amount determined by the size of his contract.
It's unclear yet when Sasaki will officially be posted, starting the 45-day clock for him to sign with a major league club.
Sasaki helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His fastball has been clocked at 102.5 mph, and he had a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four injury-shortened seasons with the Marines. He pitched a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in April 2022.
“Since I joined the team, the team has been listening to my thoughts about my future MLB challenge, and I am very grateful to the team for officially allowing me to post," Sasaki said in a statement posted by the Marines on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
"There were many things that did not go well during my five years with the Marines, but I was able to get to this point by concentrating only on baseball, with the support of my teammates, staff, front office, and fans. I will do my best to work my way up from my minor contract to become the best player in the world, so that I will have no regrets in my one and only baseball career and live up to the expectations of everyone who has supported me this time.”
相关文章:
相关推荐:
右サイドで常識覆す「禁断の共存」サッカー日本代表、大勝導いた久保&堂安の左利きコンビが生んだ新たな可能性【注目馬動向】昨年の目黒記念の勝ち馬ヒートオンビートが美浦・青木厩舎に転厩 障害転向を目指す警察官が拳銃とともに過去にタイムリープ、親友が命を絶ったあの日「カブリダニ」1巻上地結衣、田中愛美組 パートナーへの思いと成長で金メダル「ついに壁を破るとき」逆転でオランダのV9阻止「その治癒師、実は最強につき」新たなキービジュ公開、ED主題歌を聴けるPVも(動画あり / コメントあり)玉木の土曜注目馬【中京10R・ムーンライトH】身長差BL「165185」1巻 複製原画が当たる感想投稿キャンペーンも実施(試し読みあり)山下美夢有「伸ばすしかない」 最年少メジャー3冠へ4差3位で最終日へ乙女ゲームの知識はほぼゼロ、我が道を行く転生令嬢×王太子殿下のラブコメ1巻山下美夢有「伸ばすしかない」 最年少メジャー3冠へ4差3位で最終日へ