Roki Sasaki佐々木朗希
A perfect game at 20, a 100 mph fastball, and a very public path to the majors.
Roki Sasaki came to the Dodgers from the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2025. This page explains why he signed as a minor leaguer, what made him famous in Japan, and how to read his numbers.
Profile
| Team | Los Angeles Dodgers |
|---|---|
| Position | Starting pitcher |
| Number | 11 |
| Born | Nov. 3, 2001 (age 25) |
| Hometown | Iwate (Ofunato High School) |
| Throws and bats | Throws right, bats right |
Profile details checked Nov. 4, 2026 against MLB.com and major news outlets.
Season stats
2026 (MLB.com stats)
Stats refresh each morning from MLB data.
Career timeline
- 2019
Drafted first overall by the Chiba Lotte Marines out of Ofunato High School.
- 2021
Makes his pro debut on May 16.
- 2022
Throws a perfect game against Orix on April 10, with 19 strikeouts, tying the NPB single-game record.
- 2024
On November 8, Lotte begins the posting process so he can negotiate with MLB clubs.
- 2025
Signs with the Dodgers on January 22 with a $6.5 million signing bonus. Because he was under 25, he started on a minor-league contract.
- 2026
5 wins, a 4.49 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 26 appearances.
What is a perfect game?
A perfect game means no opposing player reaches base: no hits, no walks, no errors. It is extremely rare in Japan as well.
Sasaki did it on April 10, 2022, and struck out 19 batters while doing so, tying the NPB record for one game.
Why did he sign a minor-league contract?
MLB limits what international players under 25 can be paid and what kind of contract they can sign. Sasaki was under 25 when he joined, so he signed a minor-league deal with a $6.5 million bonus.
Frequently asked questions
- What team and number does Sasaki wear?
- He plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers and wears number 11.
- When did he throw his perfect game?
- April 10, 2022, for Lotte against Orix. His 19 strikeouts tied the NPB single-game record.
- Why did he start on a minor-league contract?
- MLB restricts contracts for international players under 25. His signing bonus was $6.5 million.
- When did he join the Dodgers?
- He signed on January 22, 2025. Lotte had started the posting process on November 8, 2024.