LA Dodgers' latest international free agent signee Roki Sasaki has arrived in town and is meeting some of the biggest stars representing the city. Sasaki, 23, is seen as the best pitcher out there who's yet to show his talent in the majors.
Ever since he was posted, there was a high level of interest among teams before he eventually signed with the Dodgers who gave him a $6.5 million signing bonus and will have him under team control for the next six years.
On Sunday, Roki Sasaki went to Crypto.com Arena to watch LA Lakers take on the Washington Wizards. During the pre-game warmups, arguably one of the biggest basketball stars, LeBron James, came to greet him. Moreover, Rui Hachimura, who's also from Japan, also came to greet Sasaki and struck a pose with him doing the "LA" symbol with hands.
Throughout it all, Roki Sasaki seemed nonchalant, which didn't escape the attention of fans.
"Sasaki has zero rizz," one commented.
"I thought this guy didn’t like being the center of attention," another sarcastically said.
"Dude is so awkward," another wrote.
"Magic definitely told him to say hi," one fan thinks Dodgers owners and Lakers legend Magic Johnson might have to do something with LeBron coming up to greet Sasaki.
"He had no idea who that tall black man was," another wrote.
"Legend 🤝 Future Legend," another wrote.
"Shy guy," another added.
Roki Sasaki picks Dodgers to join Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto
It felt home to Roki Sasaki to join his Team Japan teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the Dodgers. Many speculate that Ohtani did a lot of convincing to bring the young ace to play alongside him.
On Thursday, things came down to the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres and the LA Dodgers for Roki Sasaki's sweepstakes. All teams tried hard to get him onboard by adding purse to their international pool bonus money, but, eventually, the Japanese ace picked the Dodgers.
“I have signed a minor contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Sasaki’s post said, in Japanese (via AP).
“It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best I can feel this was a correct decision, once I look back on my life as a baseball player. At my news conference for joining the club, I hope to wear my Dodgers uniform, feeling gratitude for all those who have supported me.”
With the Dodgers getting Sasaki on board, their rotation now consist of three Japanese arms as they head to the 2025 season looking to repeat as World Series champions.
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