Baseball New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

LOS ANGELES, United States, Jan. 22 Kyodo - Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander. (Kyodo)

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki (C) meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki poses with his new team cap as the hard-throwing Japanese right-hander is introduced at a press conference in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki (2nd from R) poses for a photo as the hard-throwing Japanese right-hander is introduced at a press conference in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, with manager Dave Roberts (far R), President Stan Kasten (far L), general manager Brandon Gomes (2nd from L) and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Baseball: New Los Angeles Dodger Roki Sasaki

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki meets the press in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2025, wearing his No. 11 jersey as the Los Angeles Dodgers announce the acquisition of the hard-throwing right-hander.

Baseball: Lotte pitcher Sasaki

Baseball: Lotte pitcher Sasaki

Roki Sasaki of the Lotte Marines pitches on Aug. 1, 2024, for the first time since June 8, in a Pacific League game against the Seibu Lions at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba, east of Tokyo. The 22-year-old hard-throwing right-hander was removed from Lotte's active roster on June 13 due to problems with his throwing arm.

Japan beats China 4-0 in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

Japan beats China 4-0 in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Hard-throwing right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa pitches the ninth inning in the opening game against China in the first round of Pool A in the 2009 World Baseball Classic tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 5.

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

TAMPA, United States - Hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan arrives in in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 12 to join the Boston Red Sox's spring training.

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

TAMPA, United States - Hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan is surrounded by reporters after arriving in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 12 to join the Boston Red Sox's spring training.

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

TAMPA, United States - Hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan speaks to reporters after arriving in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 12 to join the Boston Red Sox's spring training.

Matsuzaka looking forward to realizing major dream

Matsuzaka looking forward to realizing major dream

TOKYO, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 1 after Seibu accepted his request to become available for bids from major league teams. The hard-throwing 26-year-old spent eight years as the No. 1 starter for the Lions.

Seibu's Matsuzaka re-signs for 250 mil. yen annual salary

Seibu's Matsuzaka re-signs for 250 mil. yen annual salary

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka speaks to reporters at the Pacific League club's office in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 2 after re-signing for the team for an estimated annual salary of 250 million yen.

Seibu's Matsuzaka gets 85 mil. yen pay raise

Seibu's Matsuzaka gets 85 mil. yen pay raise

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka smiles during a press conference at the office of the Pacific League baseball club in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 11 after re-signing with the team for an annual salary of 200 million yen -- a whopping 85 million yen pay raise.

(1)Daiei wins right to talk to high school star Terahara

(1)Daiei wins right to talk to high school star Terahara

TOKYO, Japan - Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (L) displays the lucky card after he won the lottery for Nichinan Gakuen ace Hayato Terahara at this year's entry-level draft for Japanese professional baseball in Tokyo on Nov. 19. At right is Tatsunori Hara, new manager of the Yomiuri Giants, who had hoped to win the right to negotiate with the hard-throwing right-hander.

Yokohama stopper Sasaki declares free agency

Yokohama stopper Sasaki declares free agency

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Relief ace Kazuhiro Sasaki of the Yokohama BayStars declares free agency Nov. 1 in hopes of signing with a team in the North American major leagues. The hard-throwing 31-year-old right-hander, who missed most of the second half of the season to recover from elbow surgery, is the owner of virtually every relief-pitching record in Japanese baseball.

Seibu's Matsuzaka re-signs for 250 mil. yen annual salary

Seibu's Matsuzaka re-signs for 250 mil. yen annual salary

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka speaks to reporters at the Pacific League club's office in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 2 after re-signing for the team for an estimated annual salary of 250 million yen. (Kyodo)

Matsuzaka looking forward to realizing major dream

Matsuzaka looking forward to realizing major dream

TOKYO, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 1 after Seibu accepted his request to become available for bids from major league teams. The hard-throwing 26-year-old spent eight years as the No. 1 starter for the Lions. (Kyodo)

Seibu's Matsuzaka gets 85 mil. yen pay raise

Seibu's Matsuzaka gets 85 mil. yen pay raise

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka smiles during a press conference at the office of the Pacific League baseball club in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 11 after re-signing with the team for an annual salary of 200 million yen -- a whopping 85 million yen pay raise. (Kyodo)

Japan beats China 4-0 in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

Japan beats China 4-0 in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Hard-throwing right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa pitches the ninth inning in the opening game against China in the first round of Pool A in the 2009 World Baseball Classic tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 5. (Kyodo)

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

TAMPA, United States - Hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan arrives in in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 12 to join the Boston Red Sox's spring training. (Kyodo)

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

TAMPA, United States - Hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan speaks to reporters after arriving in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 12 to join the Boston Red Sox's spring training. (Kyodo)

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

Matsuzaka hopes to impress fans, gears for spring training

TAMPA, United States - Hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan is surrounded by reporters after arriving in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 12 to join the Boston Red Sox's spring training. (Kyodo)

(1)Daiei wins right to talk to high school star Terahara

(1)Daiei wins right to talk to high school star Terahara

TOKYO, Japan - Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (L) displays the lucky card after he won the lottery for Nichinan Gakuen ace Hayato Terahara at this year's entry-level draft for Japanese professional baseball in Tokyo on Nov. 19. At right is Tatsunori Hara, new manager of the Yomiuri Giants, who had hoped to win the right to negotiate with the hard-throwing right-hander.

Yokohama stopper Sasaki declares free agency

Yokohama stopper Sasaki declares free agency

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Relief ace Kazuhiro Sasaki of the Yokohama BayStars declares free agency Nov. 1 in hopes of signing with a team in the North American major leagues. The hard-throwing 31-year-old right-hander, who missed most of the second half of the season to recover from elbow surgery, is the owner of virtually every relief-pitching record in Japanese baseball.