Roki Sasaki Reveals Why He Chose Dodgers in Free Agency

The Los Angeles Dodgers introduced Roki Sasaki Wednesday afternoon as the newest member of the organization at Dodger Stadium.

Sasaki, 23, agreed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers and revealed the reasons why he chose Los Angeles over the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, among others.

Sasaki said via translator Will Ireton that he chose a place “purely based on where I can grow as a player the most.”

That was also part of Sasaki’s “homework assignment” he gave teams that were trying to recruit him. He wanted teams to show him how they can help him improve his fastball which saw a dip in velocity last season and how they intend to rectify it.

“I had the opportunity to speak to a lot of teams and they have a lot of appealing features but overall when I looked at the general consensus, I thought that the Dodgers were at the top,” Sasaki said.

While many insiders pushed the topic of having Japanese teammates, that wasn’t at the top of Sasaki’s list. He wanted stability, especially with the front office. Right now, the Dodgers are proving to be one of, if not, the most stable front office in baseball.

“I think the No. 1 thing that stood out was the stability of the front office,” Sasaki added.

While he didn’t push the issue of having Japanese teammates, he did want to play somewhere that would accept him and his culture. There is no place more welcoming to the Japanese community than Los Angeles with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the roster.

Plus, the team has a storied presence in the Pacific Rim that has allowed its brand to be relevant. The Dodgers are also opening the 2025 season in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs.

“I did want to check to make sure that a Japanese player would be embraced in the team and the city,” Sasaki added.

Sasaki’s talent at 23 is unmatched and the anticipation surrounding him is similar to that of Ohtani’s rookie season with the Los Angeles Angels. But only time will tell just how great he truly is.

More news: Mookie Betts Opens Up on Dodgers Signing Roki Sasaki, Meeting With Japanese Star

More news: MLB Conducted Thorough Investigation of Roki Sasaki Process Before He Signed With Dodgers

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

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