Wow, I've never seen a ball like this before. I'm amazed by the 165km monster harness...I even saw Kershaw, a strong first impression of the Dodgers
Feb 13, 2025
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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes was surprised after receiving the ball directly from the new pitcher in the team 'Japanese monster pitcher'Sasaki Rocky. The Dodgers are a team full of top Major League pitchers such as Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Bobby Miller. Nevertheless, after working with Sasaki for the first time, Barnes threw his tongue out, saying, `I've never seen a ball like this before.'
Sasaki made his first bullpen pitch on the 13th (Korea time) at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers' spring camp training site in Glendale, Arizona. Sasaki, who appeared with a yellow glove on his left hand, threw the ball while Dodgers officials, coaches, and players turned it on.
Among the players was the Dodgers' living legend Kershaw, who boasts 212 big league wins. Kershaw agreed to renew his one-year contract with the Dodgers on the 12th and decided to continue his path as a franchise star. Kershaw, the Dodgers' oldest player, also seemed to wonder why Sasaki was called a monster.
The Major League website MLB.com said Sasaki threw a dirty ball hard and catcher Barnes shouted "Oh my God."
Sasaki drew attention with a fastball with a maximum speed of 165km when he played in the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB), and the power of the splitter is considered as great as the fast ball. In catcher Barnes' eyes, Sasaki's light splitter from the first bullpen seemed like a harness.
Barnes told local reporters in the U.S. `Sasaki's fastball is really huge. The splitter is different. I've never seen a ball like that. It feels different from Yamamoto's splitter. It was really nice. Sometimes it was hard to catch. The splitter really moves here and there."
Sasaki agreed to a contract with the Dodgers in the middle of last month. As many as 20 clubs participated in the recruitment presentation this winter, it was considered the biggest fish for pitchers, but only received $6.5 million (about 9.4 billion won) in down payment for rookies. Sasaki is under the age of 25 and is classified as an international amateur player rather than a general FA under the U.S.-Japan professional baseball agreement. Large contracts were difficult in the first place because each club had a limit on international prospect down payments. Sasaki wanted to be on the world's best stage as soon as possible even if he received a small amount of money, and achieved his dream by joining hands with last year's winning team, the Dodgers.
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MLB.com says 'Sasaki's splitter is already the best in the world, and in 2025 it will be the best splitter in Major League Baseball. His splitter averaged 90.9 miles (about 146 km) in WBC. The fastest splitter speed was 93 miles (about 150 kilometers). Last year, only three players in the Major League were able to throw splitters with an average speed of 90 miles (about 145 kilometers) or more in the Major League, including Jose Soriano (LA Angels), Taj Bradley (Tampa Bay Rays), and Yamamoto. Sasaki will follow in their footsteps. Sasaki's high speed splitter is really tricky. During the WBC, he was surprised by the fact that it fell by an average of 33 inches (about 84 centimeters) vertically.
Sasaki's splitter is the best compared to other Japanese pitchers, even Ohtani.
MLB.com asserted that "Sasaki's splitter is the best compared to Shota Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Imana (Chicago Cubs) and Godai Senga (New York Mets), who came over with a special splitter in the Major League."
Sasaki did not feel good after his first bullpen pitch amid favorable reviews," he confessed honestly. I was nervous because it was my first time, and the weather was still chilly. Sasaki was satisfied with the situation where he finished his first bullpen pitch safely and continued to improve his physical condition.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is considering whether to send Sasaki to the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo next month and the opening series in 2025. They all play two games, and Yamamoto is the most likely starter for the opening game and is considering leaving the second game to Sasaki. Priorities are given to Japanese pitchers to match the title of the `Tokyo Series,' and the two pitchers are fully qualified for the opportunity. The Cubs are considering Japanese pitcher Imanaga as their starting pitcher for the opener.
Roberts said, `There are all cases. But I think Sasaki will throw in the second game of the opening series. If you can't do that, you can't do that."
Regarding the Tokyo Series appearance, Sasaki said, `Honestly, it's very rare to play the opening series of the Major League regular season in Japan. It would be even more special as a rookie (major league) if he could pitch. For now, I will focus on preparing to achieve that goal (to take the mound in the opening series)."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
