Remember the name Roki Sasaki, aka The Monster of Reiwa. At just twenty years old, he’s taken Nippon Professional Baseball by storm and drawn the attention of nearly every major league team stateside. On Sunday, he completed one of the greatest games ever pitched, regardless of league or level.
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Pitching for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki retired all 27 men he faced en route to the league’s first perfect game in twenty-eight years and just the 16th in league history. His 19 strikeouts – including 13 in a row – broke both the NPB and MLB records for strikeouts in a perfect game. It was also the first complete game of Sasaki’s young career, needing just 105 pitches to accomplish the feat.
“The big thing today was getting ahead in counts, being able to throw strikes. Now I want to do my best to pitch well next time.”
Last year as a teenager, Sasaki made his professional debut in the Japanese majors with a 4-2 record and 1.84 ERA in 16 games. His 100 mph fastball and devastating forkball have American scouts chomping at the bit. However, it’s likely to be several years before he makes his move to Major League Baseball.
An agreement between the MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball stipulates that Japanese players do not reach free agency until they reach nine years of professional service. Prior to that mark, players are subject to a complicated posting system with a series of restrictions and built-in fees that make the transition to an American team quite complex. In just his second professional year, fans will have to wait a while to see Roki Sasaki in the states.
You can check out highlights of Roki’s perfect game here. As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
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