Dodgers Japanese Free Agent Target Roki Sasaki Seen Wearing Padres Gear

Dodgers Japanese free agent target Roki Sasaki was seen wearing a full San Diego Padres outfit on social media. The 22-year-old will be one of the most highly sought after international free agents ever, and appears to be on top of the Dodgers’ wish list whenever he gets posted to Major League Baseball.

While the Dodgers/Sasaki connection has been well-documented, L.A. will be far from the only team going after his services.

The Padres should be one of the teams in the mix for Sasaki, and their ace, Yu Darvish, has already started the recruiting. Darvish reportedly sent Sasaki that full Padres outfit as a gift.

Sasaki will pitch in the NPB in Japan in 2024 after re-signing with the Lotte Marines after much discussion about a move to MLB. However, he could come to the Majors sooner rather than later, despite the financial limitations that would come with the decision.

In 2023, Sasaki went 7-4 with a 1.78 ERA in 15 starts in the NPB. He had 135 strikeouts to just 17 walks in 91 innings pitched. He turned 22 in November.

For the latest update on Sasaki and in-depth analysis on what makes him so good by Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain, click the video at the top of the article, or click right here.

In the meantime, Shohei Ohtani and/or Yoshinobu Yamamoto should send Sasaki some Dodgers gear.

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports