Roki Sasaki wears dog-themed socks, reveals pet’s birthday connection during Dodgers' introduction

Highly touted prospect Roki Sasaki was welcomed as the newest member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in L.A. The NPB fireballer will now be slotted in the powerhouse pitching rotation alongside countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well as Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.

During Sasaki's unveiling, it was revealed that he was wearing an adorable pair of socks with his pet poodle stamped on them. He also shared that the pup and the hurler share the same birthday.

Sasaki is not the only Japanese Dodgers player to show love for his adorable canine. Shohei Ohtani has also publicly expressed love for his puppy Decoy.

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Roki Sasaki extends condolences to victims of the wildfires

Just as Sasaki was speaking at the podium during his unveiling, another wildfire was reported to have started around 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The Hughes fire burned an estimated 9,000 acres of land. Fortunately, no one was harmed and no structures were affected by the blaze.

During his speech, Sasaki sent his heartfelt condolences to those who have been affected by the raging wildfires that have affected Los Angeles and neighboring counties since January 7, 2025.

"Los Angeles is facing challenging and difficult times right now and as a member of the Dodgers starting today, I am dedicated to give my best and strive forward together with the people of this city," Sasaki said.

It's been reported that at least 27 people have perished with 31 missing due to the fires. At the moment, estimates suggest that at least 17,700 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

Sasaki's moment of empathy was appreciated by the team's fans on social media. The NPB phenom himself was once a victim of a disaster. During the 2011 Japan earthquake, Sasaki's house was swept by the ensuing tsunami that was estimated to have reached at least 20 feet high. The young hurler lost his father and paternal grandparents to the disaster.