Betts voices hope for new Dodgers pitcher Sasaki


Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts said Tuesday he is ready to help new Japanese teammate Roki Sasaki be “the best pitcher on the planet.”

Betts, attending an event in Tokyo, said he had already met with the 23-year-old right-hander, who chose the Dodgers from his long list of suitors this offseason.

Sasaki will join countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the World Series champion Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts attends an event in Tokyo on Jan. 21, 2025. (Kyodo)

“Roki is really, really soft-spoken,” the eight-time All-Star said. “You can tell that he’ll love being around Yoshi and Shohei…but for me, I’m going to get him out of his shell, laugh and joke, and get him to really embrace the American culture.”

“I think that will really help him to be the best pitcher on the planet. Because I think that everyone believes he can definitely be the best pitcher on the planet.”

Roki Sasaki pitches for the Lotte Marines in a July 12, 2023, game against the Orix Buffaloes in which he struck out 14 batters over seven innings at Kyocera Dome Osaka. (Kyodo)

Sasaki, who threw a perfect game in April 2022, will try to get into the starting rotation to be joined by two-way star Ohtani, who is returning to the mound after a one-year absence following elbow surgery.

The Dodgers are scheduled to open their season in Tokyo in March with two games against the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m super excited about it,” Betts said.


Related coverage:

Baseball: Roki Sasaki’s move to MLB at 23 breaks precedent

Baseball: Dodgers agree to terms with star pitcher Roki Sasaki






Source link