Roki Sasaki, the latest Japanese pitching sensation to transition to Major League Baseball, signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month, concluding a lengthy recruitment process for the 23-year-old pitcher that spanned several weeks of the offseason.
In a recent interview with Foul Territory, Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman shared insights on how the team convinced Sasaki to come to Los Angeles, highlighting a specific roster advantage related to Shohei Ohtani.
Friedman explained that teams can have a maximum of 13 pitchers on their active 26-man roster. However, because Ohtani qualifies as a two-way player, the Dodgers do not need to categorize him as one of their 13 pitchers. This enables Los Angeles to maintain their five starting pitchers, including Ohtani, and still have eight relief pitchers in their bullpen.
Friedman emphasized that the Dodgers’ ability to include an additional relief pitcher compared to most teams positions them uniquely to support Sasaki’s transition to the Major Leagues.
It’s understandable that Sasaki would value the Dodgers’ pitching flexibility. The ability to play regularly is crucial for athletes, and having extra arms available at the major league level will significantly aid in managing the demands of a long season. An additional pitcher can help distribute the workload across nine innings, which is essential for maintaining pitcher health.
With Sasaki joining their ranks, the Dodgers, fresh from their 2024 World Series Championship victory—their second title in five years—are entering the 2025 season with a compelling starting rotation. This lineup prominently features three Japanese stars: Sasaki, Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, alongside talented pitchers Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, while Tony Gonsolin remains a strong starting option as well.
