Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki strikes out five in spring training debut
It seems the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes might have been worthwhile, after all. The Japanese phenom struck out five over three innings of his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
It seems the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes might have been worthwhile, after all.
The Japanese phenom struck out five over three innings of his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
Sasaki did not allow a run against the Cincinnati Reds after entering in relief of starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The lone damage done against Sasaki was two hits, including an Elly De La Cruz double, and a walk.
Sasaki, 23, signed with the Dodgers in the off-season after a lengthy courting process in which the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres were also finalists.
An international free agent coming from Japan’s NPB, Sasaki was limited in what he could sign for.
The Blue Jays had $8,261,600 in spending room for international free agents after acquiring $2 million in space and outfielder Myles Straw from the Cleveland Guardians in January.
But the move for Straw was a failed gambit to lure Sasaki, who chose to join fellow Japanese stars Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani in Hollywood.
Now, the Jays can only watch as Sasaki is off and running with the Dodgers.
