History of Roki Sasaki in Timeline

Roki Sasaki is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher known as "the Monster of the Reiwa Era." He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), debuting in 2021. In 2025, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1994: Previous Perfect Game

In 1994, Hiromi Makihara pitched a perfect game, which was the most recent perfect game in NPB history until Sasaki's in 2022.

November 3, 2001: Roki Sasaki's Birth

On November 3, 2001, Roki Sasaki was born. He would later be nicknamed "the Monster of the Reiwa Era" and become a professional baseball pitcher.

2001: Birth and Naming

In 2001, Roki Sasaki was born and named after the villain Rouki from Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger, a Super Sentai show.

2009: Stephen Strasburg Draft

In 2009, Stephen Strasburg was selected first overall in the Major League Baseball draft, and was one of the most anticipated prospects in the league's history. In 2023, MLB executives compared Sasaki's abilities to Strasburg's at the same age.

2011: Great East Japan Earthquake

In 2011, during his third grade year, Roki Sasaki experienced the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in the loss of his home, father, and grandparents. He, his mother, and brothers lived in a nursing home during the recovery.

2019: Drafted by Chiba Lotte Marines

In 2019, after four teams attempted to select Sasaki in the NPB draft, the Chiba Lotte Marines won the lottery and selected Sasaki. He received a signing bonus of ¥100 million (US$911,161.73).

August 15, 2020: Previous No-Hitter

On August 15, 2020, there was a no-hitter in NPB, the first since Roki Sasaki's perfect game on April 10, 2022.

2020: Marines Protect Sasaki's Arm

In 2020, the Marines did not allow Sasaki to appear in a game to protect his arm.

May 16, 2021: NPB Debut

On May 16, 2021, Roki Sasaki made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut. He finished the 2021 season with a 3–2 win–loss record, a 2.27 earned run average (ERA), and 68 strikeouts.

2021: NPB Debut

In 2021, Roki Sasaki made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

April 10, 2022: Throws Perfect Game

On April 10, 2022, Roki Sasaki threw a perfect game. He also tied the NPB record for strikeouts in one game and set a new record for consecutive strikeouts.

2022: Pitching Style in 2022

During the 2022 season, Roki Sasaki's fastball averaged 98.4 mph as a starter. He also throws a forkball, a curveball, and a slider, with the forkball being his best off-speed pitch.

April 28, 2023: Ties Fastest Pitch Record

On April 28, 2023, Roki Sasaki threw 4 pitches at a speed of 165 km/h (102.5 mph), tying the record held by Shohei Ohtani for the fastest pitch by a Japanese player in NPB history.

2023: Participates in 2023 World Baseball Classic

In 2023, Roki Sasaki pitched for the Japanese national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). He started two games, one against the Czech Republic on March 11 and another against Mexico on March 20. He received a gold medal in Japan's championship victory over the United States.

2023: International Attention at WBC

In 2023, Roki Sasaki's performance in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) received international media attention for his fastball velocity and split-finger fastball. MLB executives compared his abilities at age 21 to those of Stephen Strasburg.

November 8, 2024: Marines Post Sasaki

On November 8, 2024, the Marines posted Sasaki to allow him to pursue an opportunity with Major League Baseball.

January 22, 2025: Signs with the Dodgers

On January 22, 2025, Roki Sasaki signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which featured a $6.5 million signing bonus. He had to sign a minor league deal because he was under the age of 25. Baseball America and MLB.com named him the No. 1 prospect in MLB entering the 2025 season.

March 19, 2025: MLB Debut in Tokyo Series

On March 19, 2025, Roki Sasaki made his MLB debut as the starter for the second game of the season in the MLB Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed one run and his first MLB strikeout was of Seiya Suzuki.