The Dodgers are certainly interested in Roki Sasaki. Many industry insiders had even stated them as the favorites to land him. But according to many league sources, Sasaki’s future might not lie in Los Angeles after all, given he won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2028 and won’t hit MLB free agency until the 2030-31 offseason.  

While that gives him several years to build his brand, how will Roki Sasaki maximize his income now? The answer is endorsements, and that’s where the Dodgers might not be the perfect fit for him. LA is the biggest stage in baseball, but it’s also crowded – Sasaki would be sharing the spotlight with giants like Shohei Ohtani and, potentially, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The problem? His endorsement opportunities could be diluted in a market as saturated as Los Angeles.  

The Dodgers seem like an unfavorable choice for Roki Sasaki 

Let’s have a look at Yoshinobu Yamamoto, for instance. While he’s a star in his own right, playing alongside Ohtani has made it tougher for him to secure as many endorsement deals. In fact, Mets pitcher Kodai Senga has reportedly landed more sponsorships than Yamamoto, according to a league source. According to The Athletic, Sasaki would have to weigh this factor carefully when making his decision; then, there’s the media frenzy. The Dodgers have a massive Japanese media presence, with anywhere from 25 to 35 reporters regularly covering the team.  

That’s a lot of attention for a young pitcher trying to develop his craft. Sure, he’d be in the spotlight, but the constant scrutiny might not be the ideal environment for Roki Sasaki, especially when he’s still working to refine his game. This is where other teams, like the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, and Atlanta Braves come into play – each of them has elite pitching development programs, which is crucial for Sasaki’s growth as a pitcher. But unlike the Dodgers, these teams offer a bit more breathing room in terms of media pressure and, perhaps, a more focused spotlight.   

One of the most highly anticipated pitchers

Roki Sasaki has been a known name in baseball circles since his high school days. He lit up his radar with a 101 mph fastball, breaking Shohei Ohtani’s record for the hardest pitch ever thrown by a Japanese high schooler. Despite MLB teams expressing interest right out of high school, Sasaki decided to stay in Japan. He signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines, who drafted him first overall in 2019.

Rather than jumping straight into professional ball, Sasaki took a cautious approach in 2020. He sat out the season to rest his young arm at the behest of his team. It was a rare move for a highly touted prospect, but it paid off. By 2021, Sasaki was on the map as one of the best pitchers in Japan’s NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball). In 2022, he made history, cementing his status as a game-changer by throwing a perfect game and retiring 52 consecutive batters, a feat so rare it made waves across the baseball world.

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Back in NPB, Sasaki continued to dominate in 2023 and 2024, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most talented pitchers in the world. However, injuries started to take a toll on him, and while his talent remained undeniable, staying healthy became an ongoing challenge. Over the two seasons, he threw 202 innings combined. Still, even with his health concerns, Sasaki remains one of the most highly anticipated pitchers to make the jump from Japan to Major League Baseball.