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:
谷まりあ、ピンクのふわふわ衣装がキュートな最新ショットを披露 「セクシー!」「可愛すぎ」の声【巨人】「悔しい」坂本勇人 来季へ「このオフは一人一人が大事。みんなでレベルアップできるようにやりたい」【巨人】菅野智之「人生で味わったことない悔しさ」9回の失点悔やむも「今日の声援は一生忘れることはない」【DeNA】森敬斗が初回に痛恨の送球エラーで先制点を献上塚原千恵子さん、77歳で死去 日本協会「女子を世界のトップレベルまで成長させていただいた」【DeNA】戸柱恭孝がCSのMVP 「野球人として成長できると思えた」フジ・小澤陽子アナ、愛娘と友人の結婚式へ!笑顔溢れる親子ショットが反響「全部ハッピーで包まれてます」【巨人】1回に1点を先制 DeNA森敬斗の悪送球で岩城宏士、「D.B.S」連載前に発表した読切「うさぎ追いし」がヤングキングBULLに掲載(試し読みあり)三谷幸喜監督&深津絵里&妻夫木聡、そろって西田敏行さんを弔問し別れ惜しむ「大好きな西田さんが…」