New Dodger Sasaki says baseball ‘journey just beginning’, gets US$6.5 million signing bonus

Roki Sasaki said he looks forward to starting his Major League Baseball career in Los Angeles after signing a deal with the Dodgers on Wednesday that will see him team up with fellow Japanese players Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The hard-throwing 23-year-old international free agent agreed to a deal that included a $6.5 million signing bonus and will earn a rookie salary in his first season, the Athletic reported.

“Putting on this Dodgers uniform today I am reminded that my journey is just about to begin,” Sasaki said at an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. “And it makes me feel more focused than ever.”

Sasaki joins the World Series champions after spending the past four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball league.

The 6ft 2in pitcher whose fastball can top 100 miles per hour went 30-15 with a 2.02 ERA in four seasons with the Marines.

The two-time NPB All-Star threw a perfect game in April 2022 where he struck out 19 batters including 13 in a row to set a record for consecutive strikeouts in a game.