Roki Sasaki already is aware of if he desires to pitch for the Dodgers.
That is purely hypothesis on my half, however based mostly on what his agent mentioned about him this week at baseball’s winter conferences, how might he not know?
The agent, Joel Wolfe of the Wasserman Media Group, described Sasaki as purposeful. As having a transparent imaginative and prescient for his profession. As being fiercely decided.
There’s no means Sasaki hasn’t already contemplated whether or not he desires to share a clubhouse with the best participant ever to come back out of his nation — or maybe any nation. There’s no means the 23-year-old fireballer hasn’t thought of whether or not he desires to play with Shohei Ohtani or towards him.
Chatting with reporters on the Hilton Anatole lodge, Wolfe recalled assembly Sasaki for the primary time two winters in the past. Wolfe was launched to Sasaki by one in every of his purchasers, Yoshi Tsutsugo, who performed briefly for the Dodgers.
“I could tell immediately he was determined to come to the U.S. and that he wanted to come early,” Wolfe mentioned.
Sasaki was solely 21 on the time.
Wolfe was struck by how Sasaki was ready to take care of the results.
“He knew he was going to be subject to a lot of criticism in the media,” Wolfe mentioned.
The backlash he obtained principally got here from the general public. Japan is a rustic that believes so as. Baseball gamers are anticipated to win championships and particular person awards earlier than graduating to the foremost leagues. Ohtani was a Pacific League most dear participant and Japan Sequence champion with the Nippon-Ham Fighters. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a three-time Pacific League MVP and Japan Sequence champion with the Orix Buffaloes.
Sasaki hadn’t received something. Who was he to ask the Marines to publish him?
He remodeled from hero to villain in his last season with the Marines. Just about all the nation had supported him since he was in highschool largely as a result of he misplaced his father within the tsunami that devastated Japan’s Tohoku area in 2011. A major proportion of that assist vanished in a single day.
Regardless of the particulars, Wolfe’s bigger level about Sasaki’s acceptance of the fallout holds true. Sasaki knew that trying to expedite his dream of enjoying within the main leagues would price him an infinite quantity of public goodwill. He didn’t let that cease him.
Joel Wolfe, the agent for Roki Sasaki, spoke to reporters at baseball’s winter conferences this week in Dallas.
(Tony Gutierrez / Related Press)
“I have an incredible amount of respect for Roki and his family for putting themselves in that position of great difficulty because they were greatly criticized, as you all know, because of the position that he took,” Wolfe mentioned. “He never backed down. He never deviated from what he wanted. He just got stronger inside and more determined and never gave up.”
Sasaki is assessed as a world novice participant and might solely signal an ordinary minor-league contract. By ready two extra years, he might have hit the market as an unrestricted free agent, which seemingly would have resulted in a nine-figure contract for him and an eight-figure cashout for the Marines. Wolfe emphasised that he didn’t persuade Sasaki to maneuver to the majors now.
“Nobody convinces Roki of anything,” Wolfe mentioned. “Roki convinces us. He runs his own ship. He’s the boss.”
There are apparent similarities between the tales of Sasaki and Ohtani, who’re each from the northern Japanese prefecture of Iwate. Ohtani was broadly accused of disrespecting skilled baseball when he mentioned he signed with the Fighters and mentioned he meant to be a two-way participant. Even after efficiently pitching and hitting in Japan, not everybody was satisfied he might proceed doing so within the main leagues. Looking back, it was apparent why Ohtani determined to initially signal with the Angels. He was searching for a crew that wouldn’t stand in the best way of what he wished.
Sasaki nearly actually has as clear a plan for his profession. What that’s stays a thriller as a result of Sasaki is a thriller. The Marines went to excessive lengths to protect Sasaki from the media in his 5 years with them, a lot in order that the intensely non-public Ohtani looks as if an open guide by comparability.
Wolfe mentioned he wasn’t “entirely sure” what Sasaki was searching for in his subsequent crew. About the one clue Sasaki has supplied about what he desires was in an announcement he launched by means of the Marines final month after they introduced he could be posted.
“I’ll do my best so I can become the No. 1 player in the world,” Sasaki mentioned.
However what does that seem like in Sasaki’s thoughts?
Might Sasaki get hold of the stature he needs if he’s pitching on a crew led by Ohtani? Or does he suppose he has to beat Ohtani by becoming a member of a rival crew such because the San Diego Padres or New York Yankees?
Would his harm historical past make him extra inclined to affix a Dodgers crew with loads of pitching depth that would restrict the variety of innings he throws? Or does he need the accountability of being a workers ace from the beginning?
Does he wish to improve the legacy of a signature franchise? Or does he wish to remodel an underachieving crew as Ohtani tried to do with the Angels?
The Dodgers are getting ready to make a presentation to Sasaki, as they need to. Due diligence is vital. However in actuality, there in all probability isn’t a lot they will say to him to vary his thoughts. He’s been planning this transfer for years.
