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:
グループが違う女子2人の距離感微妙な日常百合「シャイなあの子に懐かれたい」1巻ボクシング東日本新人王目指す金子佳樹がソフトバンク育成6位指名・川口冬弥から刺激 ともに東海大菅生野球部出身【日本ハム】「誰も知らない新たな野球の一ページを作ろう」1位指名・柴田獅子に栗山CBOからメッセージ満員御礼!怒声あり笑いありの前日会見 すでに始まっていたお祭り騒ぎワールドシリーズ…担当記者が「見た」巨人で通算2000安打以上は7人で5人が高卒 ドラ1・石塚裕惺が目指す金字塔「リンゴちゃうんかい」松村沙友理、「トマトな」真っ赤のワンピースでランウェイ!「さゆリコピンはさすが」ドジャースWSロースター発表 大谷翔平&山本由伸に期待 ロハス、ベシア、グラテロルが大舞台で復帰戸田の土曜注目馬【京都11R・スワンS】ぶりっこに浮気する婚約者にブチギレ、婚約破棄したら王子から溺愛されるラブコメ1巻浅子の土曜注目馬【新潟3R】