Lotte Marines flamethrower Roki Sasaki said Saturday he has expressed his desire to one day play Major League Baseball ever since joining the Pacific League club.
The 22-year-old, who in 2022 became the youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game in Japan, agreed to terms Friday on his contract with Lotte for the upcoming season.
"I have the desire to play in the U.S. major leagues in the future," Sasaki told a press conference. "I've been communicating every year. I believe the club understands it too."
Sasaki agreed to his latest deal with Lotte only six days before the team is set to hold its first spring training workout.
He remained coy on when he will make the move to MLB, stating, "I believe it's important to play well in the season that's right in front of me."
Sasaki turned pro with the Marines as their first draft pick in 2019 after Lotte won his negotiating rights in a four-way lottery. The right-hander developed into a world-class talent by 2022 and helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Last year, when it appeared Sasaki might clear the 143 innings needed to qualify for an ERA title, he was sidelined by an oblique muscle injury in July that restricted him to just 15 total games and 91 innings.
