Report: Star Japanese pitcher could move to MLB next year

The next Japanese star could be headed to Major League Baseball sooner rather than later.

MLB teams are already preparing for Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to be posted this offseason, according to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. Sasaki, who pitches for the Chiba Lotte Marines, is still just 22 and would be making the jump from Japan to the United States much earlier than most.

Rules state that players posted to MLB before their 25th birthday are only entitled to a rookie salary, which limits compensation to their NPB teams. That is one major reason players are rarely posted that early, but Sasaki has been very open about his desire to move to MLB, potentially quickly.

Teams are already scouting Sasaki and love what they see. Regarded as the best pitcher in Japan, he boasts a triple-digit fastball and a nasty splitter. In four NPB seasons, he has a 2.03 ERA in over 337 innings of work, and is seen as an MLB-ready pitcher.

If Sasaki does make the move to the United States, expect one team to be heavily favored to sign him.