Sasaki's Rise to Prominence: From Japan to the Los Angeles Dodgers

Roki Sasaki, the Los Angeles Dodgers' new pitcher, has overcome incredible adversity, including surviving Japan's 2011 tsunami, to become one of baseball's most exciting young talents.

Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old pitching sensation, has agreed to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, sparking widespread excitement among baseball fans. However, Sasaki's journey to the majors has been marked by tragedy and adversity. At the age of nine, he lost his father and grandparents in Japan's devastating 2011 tsunami.

The tsunami, triggered by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake, ravaged Sasaki's hometown of Rikuzentakata, leaving his family without a home. Sasaki, his mother, and two brothers were forced to live temporarily in a nursing home before relocating to a nearby city. Despite the unimaginable hardship, Sasaki found solace in baseball. “I was happiest when I was playing baseball,” he said 10 years after the disaster. “I could lose myself in the game and fight hard against the tough times. I'm glad I started playing baseball.”

Sasaki was at school when the tsunami struck, and he and his classmates survived by climbing to higher ground. The disaster claimed the lives of around 18,500 people in Japan and triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Reflecting on the experience, Sasaki later said, “You never know when the life you take for granted can disappear, that's the scary thing.” Despite the trauma, Sasaki persevered, becoming a high school star and eventually being drafted by the Chiba Lotte Marines as the number one pick in the 2019 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.

Sasaki's talent and determination earned him recognition from MLB clubs, and he made headlines worldwide when he pitched a perfect game at the age of 20 in April 2022. Now, as he prepares to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sasaki's remarkable journey serves as a testament to his resilience and passion for the game.

Roki Sasaki etched his name in Japanese baseball history by pitching a perfect game, the 16th in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) history and the first since 1994. He set a new Japanese baseball record with 13 consecutive strikeouts, cementing his status as one of the sport's most exciting young talents. A perfect game is a rare feat where no opposing batter reaches base, and no pitcher has ever achieved it twice. Sasaki came tantalizingly close to repeating the feat in his next outing, delivering eight perfect innings before being pulled by his coach to protect his arm.

Los Angeles Dodger, Roki Sasaki. pic.twitter.com/5f9VxjiJsM

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 23, 2025

Displaying maturity beyond his years, Sasaki understood his coach's decision, admitting that “I was getting a bit tired.” This level-headedness, combined with his incredible talent, has made Sasaki a beloved figure in Japanese baseball. He was again in the spotlight a year later as part of Japan's title-winning 2023 World Baseball Classic team. On the 12-year anniversary of the disaster that upended his life, he started against the Czech Republic at the Tokyo Dome and led his team to a 10-2 win.

Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama praised Sasaki's performance, saying it was “about more than just the speed he was throwing.” 

“It was like he was putting his soul into every pitch,” he added. Sasaki's impressive display included throwing a 102.5 mph fastball during a World Baseball Classic warm-up game, fractionally faster than new Dodgers teammate Shohei Ohtani's best effort. Despite struggling with injuries and a difficult 2024 season, Sasaki's talent and potential sparked a league-wide scramble to sign him when he became available for MLB clubs.

Now that he has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sasaki hopes to inspire a new generation of children and give back to baseball what it has given him. Reflecting on the support he received after the 2011 tsunami, Sasaki said, “Lots of people supported me 10 years ago and gave me the courage and hope to keep going.” He added, “Now it's up to me to give others courage and hope. I hope I can do that through my performances.”