Roki Sasaki Press Conference: What Most People Get Wrong About His MLB Leap

The flashbulbs were a bit much. Honestly, if you watched the Roki Sasaki press conference at Dodger Stadium, you saw a 23-year-old who looked like he’d rather be facing a 3-2 count with the bases loaded than sitting behind a bank of microphones. But that’s the "Monster of the Reiwa Era" for you. He’s a guy who let his poodle’s face stay on his socks while he addressed the world.

People think this move was just about a Japanese kid wanting to play with Shohei Ohtani. It wasn’t. Not really.

During that January 22nd sit-down, Sasaki basically laid out a roadmap for why he walked away from roughly $300 million. By leaving the Chiba Lotte Marines now instead of waiting until he’s 25, he traded a generational payday for "stability" and "growth." It sounds like corporate speak, but for a guy who lost his home and family in the 2011 tsunami, the concept of "no guarantees" carries a lot more weight than it does for your average billionaire athlete.

The "Homework Assignment" That Won Over the Dodgers

One of the wildest details to come out of the Roki Sasaki press conference was the "homework" he gave MLB teams. He didn't just walk in and ask for a locker. He reportedly asked the eight finalists to analyze why his velocity dipped during the 2024 season in Japan.

🔗 Read more: Boston College Eagles Football vs Virginia Tech Hokies Football: Why This ACC Grudge Match Still Matters

Think about that. You're a GM, and a kid who throws 102 mph tells you to do his science project before he'll even consider signing.

The Dodgers aced it. Andrew Friedman and the front office didn't just talk about "winning culture." They brought data. They showed him how they’d fix the shoulder issues that limited him to 36.3 innings in his first MLB season. They proved they understood his arm better than he did.

Why the Padres and Blue Jays Lost Out

It’s easy to say everyone wants to be a Dodger. But the Padres were a serious threat. Peter Seidler’s legacy and the San Diego vibe felt like a perfect fit. Then there were the Blue Jays, who actually cleared extra international bonus pool money to offer him more cash.

Sasaki didn't care.

"The number one thing that stood out was the stability of the front office," he said. That was a gut punch to San Diego fans. He wasn't looking for the biggest check; he was looking for the most boringly consistent organization in baseball. He saw a team that could survive a bad month without firing everyone.

What's Next for the 2026 Season?

As we head into the 2026 season, the narrative around Sasaki has shifted. He’s no longer just a "prospect." He’s a World Series champion who finished 2025 as the Dodgers’ de facto closer because their bullpen was in shambles.

But if you’re expecting him to stay in the pen, think again.

Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes was pretty blunt about it recently: Sasaki is going back to the rotation. They signed Edwin Díaz to handle the ninth inning precisely so they could let Roki be a starter again.

The WBC Controversy

One thing that didn't go over well in Japan was the decision to keep him out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Andrew Friedman met with the Samurai Japan manager, and basically, the Dodgers put their foot down.

Sasaki has a history of "minor" injuries—shoulder fatigue, mostly—and the Dodgers aren't taking chances. He needs a full Spring Training. He needs to ramp up his velocity naturally instead of trying to hit 101 mph in early March. It’s a move that prioritizes his career over national pride, and honestly, it’s probably the right call for his longevity.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Let's look at the reality of his 2025 debut versus what’s expected now.

• 2025 Regular Season: 1-1 record, 4.46 ERA, 22 walks in 36 innings.
• The Problem: Command was shaky. He was "lacking in every way," as he put it.
• 2025 Postseason: 0.84 ERA in 10.2 frames. Total dominance.
• 2026 Goal: 130+ innings. He’s never hit that mark in a professional season.

He’s wearing No. 11, the same number he had with Chiba Lotte. It feels like a reboot. He’s not a finished product, and he knows it. He’s a 6-foot-3 flamethrower who is still learning how to pitch in a 162-game grind.

🔗 Read more: Aussie Rules Football Schedule: Why the 2026 Fixture is Driving Fans Wild

The Money He Left Behind

There is a lot of talk about the 25-year-old rule. If he had waited until the end of 2026, he could have signed a Yoshinobu Yamamoto-style deal ($325 million). Instead, he signed for a $6.5 million bonus.

That’s a $300 million gamble on himself.

Why? Because "there is no guarantee" how he’ll be in two years. In the Roki Sasaki press conference, he made it clear that time is more valuable than the "giga bag." He wanted to start his MLB clock early. By the time he’s 28, he’ll be eligible for free agency anyway. If he’s the ace everyone thinks he is, he’ll get paid then.

Moving Forward

If you're following Sasaki's trajectory, the next step is watching how he handles a full starter's workload in 2026. Keep an eye on the velocity readings in March. If he’s sitting 98-99 mph without effort, the "homework" the Dodgers did is paying off.

The transition from a Japanese six-man rotation to the MLB five-man (or the Dodgers' hybrid version) is the biggest hurdle. Watch his usage rates. The Dodgers will likely skip his starts or use "opener" days to protect that right shoulder. It’s a long game, and the press conference was just the opening pitch.

📖 Related: How to Enter Promo Code on DraftKings: Why You Might Be Overlooking the Best Part

Check the Dodgers' spring training schedule to see his first live BP sessions, as those will be the first real indicators of his arm health heading into the new campaign.