After Roki Sasaki was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines on Dec. 10, his agent, Joel Wolfe, reached out to all 30 Major League Baseball teams with a letter inviting them to submit “any type of information that they wanted Roki to review.”
The response was substantial, with 20 teams showing interest.
Each team that met with Sasaki was given a “homework assignment,” which allowed Sasaki to gauge how each organization would approach analyzing and communicating information with him. The specific details of this assignment were not revealed, but its purpose was clear: To provide Sasaki with insight into how the teams operate and how they would support his development.
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“Without giving the actual details of what that assignment was,” Wolfe explained, “every team got that very same assignment, and it enabled them to show how they can analyze and communicate information with him, and really showed where he was coming from in analyzing and creating his selection criteria, in looking at different teams.”
Though there has been significant speculation that the bidding for Sasaki could eventually narrow down to the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, Wolfe underscored that Sasaki prioritized fairness throughout the process. “A level playing field” was a key consideration for the young pitcher. In order to ensure this, the initial meetings were held under specific conditions: Each meeting was capped at two hours and took place at Wasserman’s Los Angeles offices. This setup allowed Sasaki to meet with teams in a neutral, controlled environment.
Additionally, Sasaki made one other important request: No current players were to attend the meetings in person. This decision meant that any recruiting efforts from players like Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto would have to be presented through video rather than face-to-face interaction.
“There were a couple of teams that had a video from one or two players, but for the most part, it was the general manager, possibly an assistant GM, the manager, the pitching coach, and people from the bio-mechanics performance and training staff,” Wolfe said.
Currently, Sasaki is back in Japan, but he is expected to return to the United States in January for a second round of meetings with a select group of teams. This will mark the next step in his highly anticipated decision-making process, with Sasaki set to make his final choice between Jan. 15, when the international signing period opens, and Jan. 23, when his posting window closes.
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Roki Sasaki Gave Dodgers ‘Homework Assignment’ After Meeting
Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki recently met with the Los Angeles Dodgers, sparking excitement among fans and the organization. The 20-year-old right-hander impressed the team during his visit, showcasing his impressive arsenal of pitches and work ethic.
After the meeting, Sasaki surprised the Dodgers by giving them a “homework assignment” to study his pitching mechanics and approach. This gesture speaks volumes about his dedication to improving and his desire to succeed at the highest level of baseball.
Dodgers officials were impressed by Sasaki’s maturity and professionalism, and they are excited about the potential of adding him to their roster in the future. The team is eager to continue monitoring his progress and development as he works towards achieving his goal of playing in the Major Leagues.
Sasaki’s meeting with the Dodgers has generated a buzz of excitement among fans, who are eager to see what the future holds for this promising young pitcher. Stay tuned for updates on Sasaki’s journey and his potential future with the Dodgers.
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