Roki Sasaki Makes an Appearance at Lakers Game
On Tuesday night, Roki Sasaki was featured on the video screen at Crypto.com Arena during the Lakers’ game against the Washington Wizards. The 23-year-old Japanese pitcher received an overwhelming and enthusiastic reaction from the crowd, even more energetic than what many celebrities get at Lakers games.
Sasaki Joins the Dodgers
Sasaki, who recently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, can expect more of this kind of attention from L.A. sports fans. He is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher with an impressive 2.10 earned-run average over four seasons in Japan. While he may not have been well-known to U.S. sports fans until recently, Sasaki became a sought-after free agent during the MLB offseason.
Sasaki’s Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, posted him last month, allowing him to become eligible to sign with an MLB team once the international signing period began on January 15. Two days later, Sasaki announced via Instagram that he had chosen the Dodgers.
Signing Details and Introduction
Because Sasaki is under 25, MLB’s international signing rules meant he could only sign a minor-league contract. His deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus and will keep him under team control for six years. He will be officially introduced as a Dodgers player at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
Meeting Lakers Stars
Before the game, Sasaki sat on the Lakers bench during pregame warmups and received a warm welcome from some of the biggest names in sports. Lakers superstar LeBron James greeted Sasaki with a handshake, saying, “Welcome to the city. Good to see you.”
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, who was born in Japan, also made sure to connect with Sasaki before the game. The two spoke in Japanese and posed for photos, with Hachimura teaching Sasaki how to make the “L.A. fingers” sign.
Rui Hachimura’s Baseball Connection
Hachimura has a strong connection to baseball. He was given the name “Rui” by his baseball-loving grandfather, and before focusing on basketball, he was passionate about baseball. Growing up, Hachimura idolized future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki and drew inspiration from Shohei Ohtani. He was excited to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium in July 2023 for Japanese Heritage Day.
Sasaki’s Visit to Crypto.com Arena
Sasaki, the newest Dodgers pitcher, seemed to enjoy his time at the Lakers game. He received a Lakers jersey with his name and No. 11, which is rumored to be the number he will wear with the Dodgers. Sasaki was also seen shaking hands with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.
In a video posted by the Lakers, Sasaki shared his excitement for attending his first Lakers game. He said in Japanese, “Today I’m here to watch my first Laker game. I’m looking forward to it.” Then, in English, he added, “Go Lakers!” It looks like Sasaki is already getting comfortable in L.A.
