Career Timeline of Roki Sasaki: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

How Roki Sasaki built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Roki Sasaki is a highly acclaimed Japanese professional baseball pitcher known for his extraordinary velocity and command. Playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), he gained international fame for throwing a perfect game in 2022, becoming the youngest pitcher in NPB history to achieve the feat. His repertoire is anchored by a fastball that consistently reaches 100 mph paired with a devastating splitter. Often referred to as 'The Monster of the Reiwa Era,' Sasaki is widely regarded as one of the most talented pitching prospects in the world. His professional trajectory has been closely monitored by Major League Baseball scouts, who view him as a potential future star in the United States. His combination of elite physical tools, mental poise, and record-breaking performances has solidified his status as a premier talent in global baseball.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2009: Selection of Stephen Strasburg in the MLB Draft

In 2009, Stephen Strasburg was selected first overall in the Major League Baseball draft, establishing a benchmark of high-level talent to which Roki Sasaki was later compared in 2023 due to his exceptional abilities at a young age.

2019: NPB Draft Selection

In 2019, Roki Sasaki was selected as the first overall pick in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft by the Chiba Lotte Marines.

2019: Selection in the 2019 NPB Draft

In 2019, the Chiba Lotte Marines won the draft lottery to secure the rights to Roki Sasaki, selecting him as their first overall pick after four teams vied for his signing rights.

2020: Redshirt season for arm protection

Throughout the 2020 season, Roki Sasaki did not appear in any professional games as the Chiba Lotte Marines opted to prioritize his physical development and protect his arm.

May 16, 2021: Professional NPB Debut

On May 16, 2021, Roki Sasaki officially made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

2021: NPB Professional Debut

After a period of careful physical development by the team to prevent injury, Roki Sasaki made his professional debut with the Chiba Lotte Marines during the 2021 season.

April 10, 2022: Perfect Game Performance

On April 10, 2022, Roki Sasaki threw a historic perfect game, during which he tied the NPB record for the most strikeouts in a single game and established a new record for the most consecutive strikeouts.

April 28, 2023: Record-Tying Fastball Pitch

On April 28, 2023, Roki Sasaki achieved a significant career milestone by throwing four pitches at 165 km/h (102.5 mph), officially tying Shohei Ohtani's record for the fastest pitch ever recorded by a Japanese player in Nippon Professional Baseball history.

2023: International recognition during the 2023 WBC

During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Roki Sasaki gained significant international attention for his pitching performance against Mexico, where he displayed elite velocity reaching 101.9 mph and a highly effective split-finger fastball, leading scouts to compare his potential to legendary prospects.

2023: Roki Sasaki's 2023 World Baseball Classic Performance

During the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Roki Sasaki represented the Japanese national baseball team. He pitched in multiple games, including a start against the Czech Republic on March 11 and a semifinal start against Mexico on March 20. He concluded the 2023 tournament with a 1–0 record, a 3.52 ERA, and 11 strikeouts, ultimately earning a gold medal after Japan's championship victory over the United States.

November 8, 2024: Posting to Major League Baseball

On November 8, 2024, the Chiba Lotte Marines officially posted Roki Sasaki, a procedural move that allows the pitcher to negotiate and pursue an opportunity to play for a team in Major League Baseball.

January 22, 2025: Roki Sasaki Signs with Los Angeles Dodgers

On January 22, 2025, Roki Sasaki signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which included a $6.5 million signing bonus due to international signing restrictions for players under 25. Following this event, he was recognized as the No. 1 prospect in MLB by both Baseball America and MLB.com for the 2025 season.

March 19, 2025: MLB Debut in Tokyo Series

On March 19, 2025, Roki Sasaki made his highly anticipated MLB debut during the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs. As the starter for the Dodgers, he pitched a performance resulting in one run allowed on one hit with five walks and three strikeouts, notably claiming Seiya Suzuki as his first major league strikeout victim.

2025: 2025 Postseason Success with the Los Angeles Dodgers

During the 2025 season, Roki Sasaki achieved significant career milestones by recording his first professional save in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Throughout the series, he secured two saves and pitched three perfect relief innings in the clinching game. Later in 2025, he contributed to the Dodgers' World Series victory, earning his first-career championship title after appearing in two games.

2025: Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers

In 2025, Roki Sasaki reached a significant career milestone by signing a contract to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball.

2025: Transition in Breaking Ball Selection

In 2025, Sasaki officially abandoned his sweeper, which he had previously utilized during his time in the NPB, in favor of adopting a gyro slider as his primary breaking ball.

2026: Pitching Repertoire Modification

During the 2026 season, Roki Sasaki introduced an 88-93 mph split-finger fastball characterized by arm-side run, a feature absent in his previous pitch iterations. He began incorporating this new splitter into his arsenal alongside his forkball.