Shohei Ohtani Praises Roki Sasaki After Dodgers, MLB Debut
The baseball world finally got to see the player that the Los Angeles Dodgers have been raving about all offseason long.
Roki Sasaki started Game 2 of the MLB Tokyo Series about six hours from where he grew up to kick off his Major League career. Over three innings, the 23-year-old threw three strikeouts, allowed one hit and one earned run. Sasaki got the win in his debut.
More news: Dodgers Overcame ‘2 Gut Punches’ to Win Tokyo Series, Says All-Star
The 23-year-old is already a well-known figure in Japan given his elite pitching status since he was a teenager. Shohei Ohtani, on the other hand, is someone who is seen as a superhero in Japan.
He gave the rookie extremely high praise after the game via SportsNet LA.
“I think Roki really did a great job giving us a chance to win today,” he said.
Ohtani, Sasaki, and the third rostered Japanese-born player on the team Yoshinobu Yamamoto all helped plan a team dinner when the Dodgers arrived in their home country.
The hospitality that the countrymen showed and the way their team got experience the Japanese culture was just as valuable as the games played, according to the three-time MVP.
“I’m happy that my teammates got to experience Japan on and off the field, but most importantly, coming away with two wins is something really huge for us,” Ohtani said. “I’m glad that we’re going to head back to the U.S. on a good note.”
The two wins are just a small portion of what this team will carry back with them to Los Angeles.
Sasaki didn’t just make a historic start at the Tokyo Dome, but perhaps the entire Dodgers organization took a deep exhale as he threw his first MLB pitch.
The phenom had so many question marks surrounding his play, but showed flashes of brilliance on the mound. Sasaki is no finished product, but he is poised to go far in the big leagues.
After three more games that won’t count towards their record, the Dodgers’ home opener will be March 27 at Dodger Stadium against the Detroit Tigers.
More news: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is Second-Highest Paid Player in MLB This Year Despite $2 Million Salary
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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