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:
竜王戦第3局1日目は佐々木勇気八段が56手目封じる…藤井聡太竜王は1時間越えの大長考2回吉村の土曜注目馬【東京11R・アルテミスS】大谷翔平、世紀のWS第1戦に「1番・DH」先発出場 ヤンキース・ジャッジとの“世界最強”争い開幕石原さとみ 37歳近影に「え、」「うそ…」「信じられない」ネット動揺「集中できない」ポーション研究を愛する令嬢の大冒険「私を追放したこと後悔してもらおう」1巻(試し読みあり)河本結は今季2勝目へ67で4位発進 最終日は弟・力が観戦する可能性もあり「頑張りたい」河本結は今季2勝目へ67で4位発進 最終日は弟・力が観戦する可能性もあり「頑張りたい」日本代表、試練の秋のテストマッチシリーズ NZ戦へ、田中史朗氏がゲキ「桜のマークを背負ったら、勝たないと」玉木の土曜注目馬【京都11R・スワンS】母を魔界から連れ戻すため魔物と契約するが…第二王子が魔界冒険するファンタジー新刊