The Emergence of the Reiwa Monster
Roki Sasaki was drafted first overall by the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2019 from Ofunato High School in Iwate, where he threw 163 km/h as a senior. The Marines developed him cautiously: no first-team appearances in year one, then 11 games in 2021 with a 2.27 ERA. His 160+ km/h fastball and devastating forkball overwhelmed NPB hitters, setting the stage for his historic 2022 season.
April 10, 2022 - The Perfect Game
At ZOZO Marine Stadium against the Orix Buffaloes, Sasaki was untouchable from the first pitch. He struck out 13 consecutive batters from the 3rd through 7th innings, shattering the previous NPB record of 9. He retired all 27 batters for NPB's 16th perfect game and first in 28 years, with 19 strikeouts on just 105 pitches. At 20 years and 5 months, he became the youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game in NPB history.
Eight More Perfect Innings and the Manager's Call
Remarkably, Sasaki carried a perfect game through 8 innings the following week against the Fighters before manager Tadahito Iguchi pulled him on pitch count limits. The decision sparked intense debate between those wanting to witness history and those supporting the protection of a 20-year-old arm. Sasaki's combined 17 consecutive no-hit, no-baserunner innings across two starts was unprecedented.
The MLB Challenge
Sasaki posted to MLB after 2024 and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025, accepting bonus pool limitations to pursue his dream. His 160+ km/h fastball and sharp forkball project as MLB weapons, following Ohtani and Yamamoto. In four NPB seasons, he went 29-15 with a 2.10 ERA, leaving behind the indelible records of a perfect game and 13 consecutive strikeouts.