Dodger Stadium is still under construction, amid major offseason renovations to the outfield World Series revocation.
But hundreds of reporters flocked to Chavez Ravine on Wednesday to watch the team put one of the key finishing touches on its 2025 roster.
Less than a week after he announced his signing with… Dodgers In one of the major free agency coups of the season, the 23-year-old Japanese phenom pitcher Rocky Sasaki It was officially introduced by the team at a celebratory press conference — the latest reception for the team’s stars that have stocked up over the past several winters.
“Putting on a Dodgers uniform today, I was reminded that my journey was about to begin,” Sasaki said through a translator. Will AyrtonAfter wearing the white number 11 shirt. “It makes me feel more focused than ever.”
Introductory press conferences are nothing new for the Dodgers these days.
They held two events last off-season to complete their acquisition of fellow Japanese stars Shuhei Otani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Twice already this season, the Chiefs have taken the podium in clubhouse right field to welcome the two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell And welcome back to the fan favorites of 2024 Teoscar Hernandez.
Another gig could soon be on the horizon with the team agreeing to a deal with their top free agent Tanner Scott Last weekend.
However, Sasaki’s arrival was unique, as the powerful thrower was hailed as a key – And economical — Part of the team’s long-term future after signing a minor league contract with a $6.5 million signing bonus that was finalized earlier Wednesday.
It was a modest deal that Sasaki was locked into, signing as an international amateur because he came from Japan before he was 25 years old. It also belies the exciting potential he brings to the Southland, where Dodgers officials hope he can quickly. Developing into a bona fide big league player.
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman He described Sasaki as “one of the most promising and exciting talents in the game.”
“This is a really exciting moment for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization,” Friedman said, smiling at Sasaki on stage. “Not only will you add to our rich heritage, but you will also play an integral role in helping us write the next chapter in Dodgers history.”
In addition to Sasaki and Friedman, the Dodgers filled the makeshift stage at the right field log level that hosted Wednesday’s news conference. General Manager Brandon Gomez And the manager Dave Roberts They were there, as was the club president Stan Kasten. In the first row of folding chairs, members of the Guggenheim Dodgers ownership group were present.
As in last year’s press conferences for Ohtani and Yamamoto, the name “Guggenheim” was also prominently displayed on the podium alongside the Dodgers logo.
A new twist this time: Wednesday’s event opened with a highlight video of Sasaki played to a line from Dodger Stadium public address announcer Todd Litz:
“Now on the mound for the Dodgers – Rocky Sasaki.”
For the past several years, the Dodgers have dreamed of hosting such an event, and have long coveted Sasaki because he excelled in the Japan Professional Baseball League — he had a 2.10 ERA in four years, though he never made more than 20 starts a season. The one. – He gained a reputation as one of the most talented shooters in the world.
With a fastball in the high 90s, a devastating splitter, and a steadily improving slider, the team hopes the 6-foot-4 pitcher can quickly adapt to life in the big leagues and become an immediate contributor in the defense of their World Series title For next season. .
At the same time, the team based its offer for Sasaki on his long-term development, selling itself as the franchise in which he would be best positioned to achieve his goal of becoming the best player in the world.
“I know I will have a lot of new experiences this year,” Sasaki said. “Since I signed a minor league contract, my goal first and foremost is to beat out the competition and make sure I get a major league contract.”
Not that there’s much doubt about that.
“Our plan is to start it,” Friedman said. “The plan is to make a big splash in spring training and make him a big part of helping us win games.”
Sasaki described him Free agent process as “incredibly difficult” after going through an initial round of meetings with a handful of teams before narrowing it down to three finalists in the Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.
“I am deeply honored that so many teams have reached out to me with such enthusiasm, especially since I have not achieved much in Japan,” Sasaki said.
Sasaki didn’t offer many details on what ultimately influenced his final selection, but he pointed to the Dodgers’ “front office stability” as one of the main factors.
“I had the opportunity to talk to many teams, and they had a lot of attractive features,” Sasaki said. “But overall, when I looked at the general consensus, I thought the Dodgers were at the top.”
One dynamic that Sasaki downplayed was the presence of Ohtani and Yamamoto already on the team, saying “it wasn’t my priority” to play alongside fellow Japanese stars.
However, when Sasaki informed his former Japan – and now, future Dodger – teammates of his decision, he said they immediately welcomed him to the club, the first of many warm receptions that marked Sasaki’s blockbuster arrival.
“To be able to play with Ohtani and Yamamoto, both of whom are exceptional players, I am really looking forward to playing with them,” he said. “And it’s not just them, it’s the rest of the team, who are incredibly talented as well. So I’m going to make sure I can stand alongside them.
