Though the White Sox won’t be linked to many free agents in this year’s class, they already have a unique connection to one player.
Japanese right-handed pitcher Rōki Sasaki, who has emerged as this offseason’s undisputed top international target, previously played under 2005 World Series champion Tadahito Iguchi. The two were part of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chiba Lotte Marines from 2021-22 until Iguchi resigned as the team’s manager.
Meet Roki Sasaki, Japan's 23-year-old fireballer coming to MLB next season 🇯🇵
Where will the coveted international free agent land? pic.twitter.com/IcucRwCNQZ
— MLB (@MLB) November 12, 2024
Sasaki, 23, currently has a chance to become one of the best pitchers to ever come from NPB, according to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. The phenom first sent shockwaves around the baseball world in 2022 when he came within three outs of throwing back-to-back perfect games.
Today is the 2 year anniversary of Roki Sasaki’s Perfect Game
– First NPB Perfect Game in 28 years
– Tied Single Game NPB Record for Ks (19)
– Set NPB Record for Consecutive Ks (13)
– Averaged 99.5 mph fastball
– 44.8 CSW%— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) April 10, 2024
In his first perfecto, Sasaki set records against Japan’s Orix Buffaloes as he struck out 13 consecutive hitters and finished the game with 19 total. He followed it up by tossing eight more flawless frames against the Nippon-Ham Fighters in his next start. Despite tallying 14 strikeouts and working off seven days rest, Iguchi ultimately pulled Sasaki at 102 pitches for precautionary reasons.
Last week: Rōki Sasaki throws a perfect game with 19Ks in a 1-0 victory for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 🇯🇵
Today: Sasaki throws another 8 perfect innings with 14Ks before being taken out on 102 pitches at 0-0.
He has 17 consecutive PERFECT innings… 🔥pic.twitter.com/l1sOEDBi6U
— Baseball Brit (@BaseballBrit) April 17, 2022
Kyodo News previously reported that Iguchi and the team’s pitching coach Masato Yoshii were instrumental in overseeing a program that built up Sasaki’s physical strength. The righty only appeared in 11 games during his first season with the team in 2021 season. Things ramped up further for Sasaki in 2022, though Iguchi continued to preach patience, even after his 17 straight perfect innings.
“I evaluated the situation based on a variety of factors,” Iguchi said on his decision to pull Sasaki during his second perfect game. “I was planning to replace him before he threw 100 pitches today.”
“A record is a record, but it is important to get the win and for Roki to firmly stay in the team’s pitching rotation for the year,” Iguchi continued.
In what has now been four seasons with Chiba Lotte, Sasaki has a 2.02 ERA, 11.4 K/9, and 2.0 BB/9 rate across 414.2 innings. He also made his presence felt in the 2023 World Baseball Classic when he struck out 11 hitters over 7.2 innings for Team Japan.
102.
Roki Sasaki is not messing around tonight 😳🔥 pic.twitter.com/yIP4FHjCbh
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2023
Sasaki’s NPB club announced last week that they would be posting the 23-year-old, making him available to all 30 Major League teams for a negotiating period of 45 days. What makes this situation unique for the pitcher nicknamed “the Monster of the Reiwa Era,” is that he will be classified as an international amateur under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Because he’s under 25 and has less than six seasons of service time in a foreign league, he will likely be landing a deal similar to Ohtani’s in 2017, where the superstar received a bonus of $2.3 million from the Angels.
Though their chances of landing Sasaki are extremely slim, the White Sox find themselves in an ideal situation as the Japanese pitcher will not have the high price tag that usually comes with his level of talent. The main downside, as you can guess, is then having to compete against 29 other clubs vying for Sasaki’s services. Despite money not playing a real factor, the Dodgers are still projected as the front-runners thanks to Shoehi Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s influence. Starting pitcher Yu Darvish may also give the Padres an elevated chance, though it seems difficult for any team to outdo Los Angeles.
While Chris Getz and Co. should be joining everyone else in making a bid to Sasaki, it will likely take more than a miracle play by Iguchi to realistically pull anything off.
Tadahito Iguchi turns 48 today and would still be our best option at 2B pic.twitter.com/mpBvTiSKuD
— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) December 4, 2022
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Featured Photo: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
