Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas Hints at Jersey Change to Give Up Number for Roki Sasaki

Roki Sasaki has a tough decision to make and if he is superstitious at all, it could take some getting used to.

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The newest starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers wore No. 17 with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, but that number is taken by the one-and-only Shohei Ohtani.

While pitching for Samurai Japan, Sasaki has worn No. 14 but that number has been retired by the Dodgers in honor of Gil Hodges.

Other numbers that could pique Sasaki’s interest are No. 18, 1, 19, 20, 21, 11, 13, 16 and 10.

Unfortunately, not all of those numbers are available as No. 18, which is known to be worn by the ace in Japan, is currently owned by Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The next three are all retired in honor of Pee Wee Reese, Jim Gilliam, and Don Sutton. Three more numbers including No. 11, 13 and 16 are all occupied by current players.

No. 10 and 21 are both available with Walker Buehler signing with the Boston Red Sox.

While Dodgers fan and insiders are guessing at what number Sasaki will wear, a post on Instagram from Miguel Rojas could be hinting at a possible number change that would give the Japanese phenom No. 11. The picture posted to the veteran infielder’s Instagram story shows him wearing No. 19.

No. 11 that Rojas has been wearing with the Dodgers is a number that a pitcher would wear in Japan as it is a double-digit number between 10 and 20.

Sasaki officially signed with the Dodgers Friday after several weeks of interviews and a homework assignment that he gave each team he met with.

“I have signed a minor contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Sasaki announced on Instagram.

“It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best to make it the right decision when I look back after my baseball career.”

Sasaki chose the Dodgers over the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, the only three teams known to have a second round of meetings with the right-hander.

More news: Roki Sasaki Signs With Dodgers Over Padres, Blue Jays in Monumental Signing for LA

Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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