Roki Sasaki's impressive season at 6-3 with a 2.20 ERA has not reflected his struggles with control, as evidenced by his 4.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio—his career-low. With 20 walks in just under 70 innings, Sasaki is left contemplating whether he should refine his skills further in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) before making a potential leap to Major League Baseball (MLB). This pause may be crucial as the move to MLB too soon could be detrimental to his career.
Sasaki's choice to stay in NPB signifies the weight of transitioning to stateside baseball, particularly for a pitcher still developing his craft. Many anticipated he would debut in MLB by 2024, but control issues and performance may result in him lingering in Japan longer. His unique path mirrors that of Shohei Ohtani, who was granted special permission from his NPB team, setting a precedent for others navigating international baseball transitions.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]