Rōki Sasaki’s Disappearance After CS Final and Lotte’s Ongoing VIP Treatment

Major League Scouts’ Evaluation Remains Unchanged

Lotte’s pitcher, Roki Sasaki (22), is increasingly likely to move to Major League Baseball during this offseason.

This season, Roki Sasaki achieved his first 10 wins, but he was sidelined for about two months due to conditioning issues and, for the first time since turning professional, failed to stay in the starting rotation throughout the entire season. Despite his high potential, many still remain skeptical, questioning whether major league teams would actually acquire such a pitcher.

However, major league scouts have a more positive view, with some believing that Sasaki has the potential to become one of the top pitchers in the majors. They also point out that because his team has not overused him, his shoulder and elbow are in great condition, making him an attractive prospect. In September, Dodgers executives visited Japan to watch Sasaki pitch, and Manager Dave Roberts has publicly shown interest, indicating that the major leagues are ready to welcome him.

For Lotte, parting with Sasaki, who is a significant asset, would be a blow. To try to keep him, the team has continued to offer VIP treatment.

“During this year’s February Okinawa camp, as soon as Sasaki joined from Ishigaki Island to Okinawa, the team banned all bullpen interviews for the press. When Sasaki was practicing on his day off, the team informed the media not to cover it. While fans were allowed to take photos and videos, there were some complaints from the press, with one reporter stating, ‘What does Sasaki think of himself!’ Personally, I think the problem lies more with the team staff, who were giving Sasaki special treatment rather than with Sasaki himself,” said a reporter who covered the camp.