There's not much question that while Major League Baseball remains the most prestigious and competitive league in the world, several other international professional leagues have closed the gap. In light of this,

Japanese star Roki Sasaki signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he announced on Instagram. The 23-year-old right-hander with a sizzling fastball and deadly splitter joins Samurai Japan teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto with the World Series champion Dodgers.

Editor's Note: The story below originally ran in November, after Roki Sasaki's NPB team pledged to post the Japanese star pitcher. Sasaki announced Friday he was signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The mighty Dodgers, that Evil Empire on the West Coast, have struck again, signing Japanese phenom Rōki Sasaki.

MLB free agency is here ... including Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki and slugging first baseman Pete Alonso. And as Soto himself knows, after being dealt to New York from the San Diego Padres ...

Japanese pitching sensation Rōki Sasaki announced on Instagram that he has chosen to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 23-year-old Sasaki is a

The Toronto Blue Jays' meeting with Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki included shortstop Bo Bichette, outfielder Daulton Varsho and reliever Chad Green,

Sasaki, nicknamed in Japan as "the Monster of the Reiwa Era," struck out 11 batters in 7 and ⅔ innings with a 3.52 ERA during the 2023 WBC. In Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he struck out 129 hitters in 111 regular-season innings for the Marines in the 2024 season.

Baseball fans who grew up during the so-called "Evil Empire" days of the New York Yankees under George Steinbrenner could surely never envision a time

Unlike the 10-year, $700 million deal for Ohtani, which set an MLB record, and the 12-year, $325 million contract for Yamamoto, which set a pitching record, acquiring Sasaki didn't break the bank.

Even with Soto no longer available, there are plenty of other top-tier free agents, including Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki and slugging first baseman Pete Alonso. RELATED: 2025 MLB free-agent ...

After being posted by the Chiba Lotte Mariners of Nippon Professional Baseball back on November 9th, Rōki Sasaki has finally signed with an MLB team, agreeing to an international minor-league ...