The splitter is on the rise in Major League Baseball, and the Dodgers are cornering the market. Splitters were thrown more often in 2024 than in any other season of the pitch tracking era, which goes back to 2008.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made another significant addition to their starting rotation with the signing of Roki Sasaki to a Minor League contract. The Japanese phenom is making the jump to MLB after spending the last four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Having dinner with former teammates wasn’t new for Roki Sasaki, but this particular evening was different. In December, Sasaki sat down for sushi with former Sa

In baseball, few players have gained the attention of fans quite like Shohei Ohtani. The post What Makes Shohei Ohtani Great, Insight From Dodgers GM Answers, Not Just the “the Dedication…” appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Roki Sasaki, MLB’s rising star, reveals how Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto played a pivotal role in his decision to join the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a secret weapon in their meetings with Japanse phenom Roki Sasaki. More news: Dodgers' Miguel Rojas Makes Big Announcement Followi

Sasaki said he prioritized joining a team that would embrace a Japanese player, but explained that there were other reasons that he ultimately chose the Dodgers.

He'll join Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the Dodgers. “Roki is really, really soft spoken,” Betts said. “You can tell that he’ll love being around Yoshi (Yamamoto) and Shohei.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ran the gauntlet and won the World Series in 2024, all with Shohei Ohtani ... five-man rotation without Ohtani. Snell, Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, maybe ...

Roki Sasaki signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, crediting the team's stable front office for his decision more than the presence of fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Wearing the No. 11 jersey, Sasaki hopes to perform excellently.

MLB teams have coveted Roki Sasaki since he broke Shohei Ohtani's Japanese high school record by reaching 101 mph with his fastball as a 17-year-old in 2019, part of a 194-pitch, 12-inning, 21-strikeout complete game in the national summer Koshien tournament.

Ohtani once eschewed the Dodgers for the Angels, and got stuck in a six-year playoff drought. The Dodgers’ new Japanese rookie phenom Sasaki made a different call.