According to Joel Wolfe of Wasserman Group, Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese pitching wunderkind, is causing a big buzz, especially with his impending signing with a Major League Baseball team when international signings are allowed next month. No less than 20 teams are lining up to sign up the young ace, among the best pitchers in the world.
Sasaki, in Japan, is weighing his choices carefully following a meeting with six top MLB teams, including the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Cubs, and Giants. Says Wolfe: “He is a different kind of ballplayer. He is all about career development, rather than more traditional considerations like market size or team traditions.”.
These were held at Wasserman’s Los Angeles offices, where strict protocols were observed. Sasaki limited the time of each session to less than two hours and further requested that no active players be in attendance to guarantee a fair evaluation process. The teams were also assigned “homework assignments” designed to showcase their analytical prowess and developmental plans.
Though Sasaki is considered an international amateur, which will limit his initial earning potential, his move has triggered a bidding frenzy. Teams are expected to use their international bonus pool allowances in making their maximum offers before the signing window closes on January 23.
Just like Shohei Ohtani, Sasaki wants to go to MLB as young as possible, showing how ambitious he is about the challenge of competition at that level. “Roki wants to be one of the greatest ever, and he knows he must challenge himself to achieve that,” said Wolfe.
The baseball world has been eagerly waiting for a final decision from Sasaki, and that would end the offseason with a further stamp of his global stature in the sport.
To Read More: Sports