Akinori Sasaki was spotted after practice at the second military facility! Akinori Sasaki, “Reiwa’s Disturbing Monster,” is “Going to the Stage of Dreams with a Smile on His Face”!
In his 5th year as a professional baseball player, Akinori Sasaki has decided to post his long-cherished wish to move to the U.S.
I’m going to do my best in the U.S. and turn all the tough encouragement into power!
On that day, the young baseball player who is the focus of attention in Japan and the U.S. received unexpectedly warm cheers from his fans, and his eyes were moistened without being noticed.
I would like to thank all of my fans for their passionate support over the past five years. I will turn all the passionate support and encouragement I have received so far into strength and do my best in the U.S.!
On November 17, Akinori Sasaki (23) made his first public appearance since the announcement that he would be accepted for posting to the major leagues at Lotte’s Fan Appreciation Day held at ZOZO Marine Stadium.
Sasaki has made no secret of his desire to play in the Majors for several years, and has caused a stir in the baseball world by withdrawing from the players’ association last offseason and holding off on signing a contract for this season until just before the start of camp. He has also been out of the lineup a lot and has never been able to hold down a spot in the rotation since joining the organization, so there are many alumni fans who are negative about his decision to go to the majors.
Of course, he knows that. That is why he has been reluctant to give interviews, and has avoided speaking publicly for fear of being yelled at. Despite this, at the Fan Appreciation Day, there were many voices of support for Roki, and few fans spoke of the “harsh encouragement” that he says he received. When he sensed the love from the fans, he was in tears on the stage,” said a reporter who covered the event.
I will act without regret before my daily life is lost.”
In mid-November, this magazine witnessed Sasaki at the Lotte’s second-string baseball team facility in Urawa. He was dressed in a black hoodie, sweatshirt, and sandals, but his 192 cm height stood out. Sasaki was all smiles as he walked along the street at night, chatting with the trainers and others, and his relaxed mood belied any criticism he might have received.
Akinori seems to be working hard to get in shape to defend his rotation in the majors. There are rumors on the Internet that he is having dinner with people from an advertising agency, but the truth is that he is still stoically going back and forth between the practice field and his home.
Sasaki, now 23 years old, will sign a minor league contract with his team in accordance with the “age 25 rule” of the Majors. His salary in his first year in the Majors is expected to be around $7 million at most, and he cannot expect a multi-billion to multi-million yen contract like Yoshinobu Yamamoto (26). One major league scout, upon seeing Sasaki pitch, praised him, saying that if the 25-year-old rule were not in place, he would be worth a 10-year, $300 million contract.
However, since he moved up to the majors two years earlier, he now has to work hard and produce results in order to secure a big contract on his own. In some cases, he could lose billions of yen on a lifetime salary basis. This move will be the subject of criticism, and it also entails a financial risk. Even so, the decision to go to the majors requires a great deal of determination. Having suffered from the Great East Japan Earthquake when he was a child, he must be thinking, “I will take action that I will not regret before my daily life is lost.
The Dodgers, with Shohei Ohtani (30) and Yamamoto, are the leading candidates to be transferred, but the Yankees, Padres, and Cubs have also shown interest in Sasaki.
I hope that he will show the same exquisite smile that FRIDAY witnessed on the mound in the Majors.
From the December 6, 2024 issue of FRIDAY
PHOTO： Sota Shima
