GLENDALE, Ariz. — Roki Sasaki was warming up on a cool, breezy Wednesday morning at Camelback Ranch when he let loose a fastball that sailed past catcher Austin Barnes and clanged against the chain-link fence.
Throwing his first bullpen session with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Japanese phenom was a little nervous.
“I didn’t necessarily feel great today, but just being able to get through the first bullpen without any injuries was a good thing,” Sasaki said through an interpreter.
Several dozen members of the media and fans watched as the 23-year-old right-hander threw 35 pitches, flashing an explosive fastball and a diving splitter while showing a little bit of wildness.
Sasaki agreed last month to a minor league contract with a $6.5 million signing bonus from the Dodgers as an international amateur free agent under Major League Baseball’s rules, with the young pitcher leaving the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League under the posting system. Had he waited two more years, he likely could have commanded a nine-figure contract as a free agent not subject to signing bonus pools.