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:
新日本「G1」ザック・セイバーJr.「初優勝」にネット感動…「X」トレンドランキング入り「小川引退ザック優勝はドラマティック」「MBSアニメフェス」が7年ぶりに復活、20年の歴史で初の2days開催【札幌記念】ステラヴェローチェ3着に須貝調教師「中間はよく調整してくれた」横山典弘騎手に感謝aespa、海外女性アーティスト史上初の2年連続東京ドーム公演「本当に幸せ」2日間で9万人以上を動員「チェリまほ」特別編集版は12月13日に公開、安達と黒沢が視線を交わすビジュアルも【楽天】中島大輔が大量6得点呼ぶ先制V打「先輩方がつないでくれたのでなんとかかえしたかった」【ヤクルト】村上宗隆が王貞治超えのプロ7年目で通算213号 2回に9試合ぶりの今季22号ソロ大谷翔平、カージナルス戦で「1番・DH」先発 史上最速「40―40」へ残り2本&3盗塁「globe」マーク・パンサー、KEIKOの52歳誕生日にサプライズ!ファンからも祝福の声続々「ブルーロック」第2期のキービジュ公開 「エピ凪」Prime Videoで9月1日に配信開始(動画あり / コメントあり)