Roki Sasaki

23-Year-Old PitcherSP
Los Angeles Dodgers AAA
2025 Fantasy Outlook
As a 20-year-old NPB phenom, Sasaki threw a perfect game and followed that up with eight perfect innings in his next start. Three years later, he's set to get his shot at the MLB level. He's sure to generate a ton of interest due to his youth and potential, but there's plenty of downside with Sasaki as well. First and foremost are durability concerns. He topped out at 20 starts and 129.1 innings in 2022 and has averaged 16.5 starts and 101 innings over the last two years while battling oblique and arm issues. He's taking steps to address those concerns by decreasing his fastball velocity and pitching to contact more often, with his fastball now sitting in the upper 90s instead of triple digits and his K% falling from 39.1% in 2023 to 28.6% in 2024. That could mean Sasaki is simply getting worse rather than making a conscious decision to stay healthy, as it did result in a career-high ERA - but when a 2.35 ERA represents a career high, expect MLB teams to remain very interested. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
From Preseason
$Signed a $6.5 million contract with the Dodgers in January of 2025.
Set to pitch in Tokyo series
PLos Angeles Dodgers  AAA
February 12, 2025
Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday during his appearance on MLB Network that he anticipates Sasaki pitching in the Dodgers' second game of the season March 19 against the Cubs in Tokyo.
ANALYSIS
The Dodgers will be taking a cautious approach to Sasaki's workload this season, but they also recognize the importance of giving him a start in his native country. Fellow Japanese hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to take the hill for the Dodgers' first game of the series March 18, and Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga is expected to start one of the two games for the Cubs.
Read More News
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Roki Sasaki See More
Mound Musings: A Look at Pitching in the NL West
2 days ago
Brad Johnson is back for the 2025 season and breaks down each division starting with the NL West, where the rich just got richer, with the addition of Roki Sasaki.
Farm Futures: Top 100 Fantasy Baseball Rookies For 2025
4 days ago
James Anderson releases his top 100 prospects for 2025 fantasy baseball leagues, in which Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews' massive stolen-base upside places him in the top tier!
RotoWire Roundtable: Top-300 Rankings for the Start of Spring Training
5 days ago
Pitchers and catchers report to camp this week, and some pitchers are already moving up the RotoWire Roundtable Rankings, including Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki.
Farm Futures: Dynasty Auction Values
11 days ago
James Anderson just updated the RotoWire dynasty rankings and shares the results of a startup high-stakes dynasty auction he participated in recently, in which Shohei Ohtani commanded the highest price!
RotoWire Roundtable: Updated Top-300 Fantasy Baseball Rankings
14 days ago
Shohei Ohtani holds onto his slim lead atop the RotoWire Roundtable rankings, but the top-300 features plenty of movement below him.
More Fantasy News
Previously contemplated Tommy John
PLos Angeles Dodgers  AAA
January 28, 2025
Sasaki was given a recommendation to undergo Tommy John surgery by a doctor prior to his first season with the Chiba Lotte Marines a few years ago, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Expected to begin year in rotation
PLos Angeles Dodgers  AAA
January 22, 2025
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday that the Dodgers plan to use Sasaki in their major-league rotation from the beginning of the season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Headed to Los Angeles
PLos Angeles Dodgers  AAA
January 17, 2025
Sasaki agreed to terms on a contract with the Dodgers on Friday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
LAD, SD, TOR are finalists
PFree Agent  AAA
January 13, 2025
The Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays are the finalists to sign Sasaki, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Officially posted
PFree Agent  AAA
December 9, 2024
The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball posted Sasaki for major-league teams Monday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Toronto trying to add pool cash
PFree Agent  AAA
January 17, 2025
The Blue Jays are attempting to trade for international bonus pool money as they await Sasaki's decision, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
The Dodgers and Padres have been working to do the same thing, although San Diego reportedly has been informed it's out of the running to sign Sasaki. While the Dodgers remain the overwhelming favorites to land the Japanese hurler, the Blue Jays continue to do everything they can to put their best foot forward.
See All MLB Rumors