Mar 4, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki against the Cincinnati Reds during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Mets international free agent target dazzles in debut with Dodgers

Originally posted on New York Mets on SI | By Troy Brock | Last updated Mar 5, 2025 2:00 PM ET

While the New York Mets are dealing with injuries to two of their top starting pitchers, the Los Angeles Dodgers witnessed the spring training debut of top international free agent Roki Sasaki.

The Mets showed interest in bringing Sasaki into the fold in the offseason and had the capability of doing so. Even after signing Juan Soto to the largest contract in professional sports history, Sasaki fell under the category of international free agents whose signing bonuses are minimal, making him theoretically available for any team.

Even though any team had the opportunity for Sasaki, he ultimately landed with the Dodgers. Quickly becoming the Evil Empire of this generation, the Dodgers have the best 26-man roster in MLB on paper, and it is really hard to argue against that.

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.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 17, 2025

It is an embarrassment of riches in Los Angeles, and the hype was justified when the Japanese phenom made his spring training debut Tuesday night. Facing the Cincinnati Reds, Sasaki pitched three innings of scoreless baseball allowing only two hits and striking out five.

The first pitch Sasaki threw lit up radar guns and cellular phones, reaching 99.2 MPH. The fans in attendance were in awe, and those who were otherwise indisposed and not able to watch the game found out about it shortly after through a plethora of smartphone notifications.

This article first appeared on New York Mets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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