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:
長嶋監督初Vを支えた代打の切り札…4番も務め一塁守備にも定評大相撲 新十両・大青山が秋場所に向け抱負 静岡・飛龍高出身の2人と、一日でも早く対戦したい「番付を上げられるように」…8日初日【紫苑ステークス展望】重賞初Vを狙うボンドガールが中心リバプール3-0快勝! スロット新監督、開幕3連勝発信!! 遠藤は出番なしカブスが今季初の6連勝で5月21日以来の貯金5としてPSに望み 鈴木誠也は2二塁打2得点で勝利に貢献3番・宗山塁 4番・清原正吾 東京六大学野球オールスターゲームで競演【仙ペン】「劇場男」が帰って来た「すごいイメージが湧いた」高橋礼が全て100キロ台の改良カーブで2死球も「前に進んでいる」と手応え【楽天】滝中瞭太が2年ぶりにオリックスと対戦へ「映像でしか見ていないバッターもいる。探りながら…」山崎紘菜、スタイル抜群の腹だしコーデショットに「存在そのものが芸術だ」「魅力的すぎる」と絶賛の声!