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For the second consecutive year, a Japanese baseball sensation has surprised fans with an announcement of marriage shortly after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following Shohei Ohtani's similar revelation last year, this winter, it’s the highly-touted pitching prospect Roki Sasaki who made waves with his personal news.
Roki Sasaki announces marriage on Instagram
On Friday, while preparing for his first spring training with the Dodgers, Sasaki took to Instagram to share a significant life update: he recently married an unnamed woman. The translation of his post reads:
Thank you for your continued support.
The other day, I registered my marriage with an ordinary woman.
This is a new start both in our personal and professional lives, and we are full of both excitement and anxiety. But we will work hard together as a couple, so we hope you will continue to support us kindly.
In this context, the term "ordinary" suggests Sasaki married someone outside of the celebrity spotlight, a sentiment reminiscent of Ohtani’s similar message last year.
While Ohtani later revealed his wife to be Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player, Sasaki is keeping the identity of his wife under wraps for now. Fans may get a glimpse of her at the Tokyo Series next month, but for now, Sasaki's personal life remains a well-guarded secret.
Roki Sasaki prepares for his MLB debut
Marriage news aside, Sasaki’s focus remains on his highly anticipated debut season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher has drawn comparisons to some of the most elite names in baseball, including Stephen Strasburg and Paul Skenes, due to his exceptional skills and potential.
Known for his fastball that consistently reaches the upper 90s and his fearsome splitter, regarded as one of the best in the world, Sasaki has the tools to be a dominant force in Major League Baseball.
However, questions about his durability remain. Despite his outstanding performances in Japan’s NPB, Sasaki has yet to prove he can stay healthy for a full MLB season, having never thrown more than 130 innings in his career.
Roki Sasaki: a bargain deal for the Dodgers
The Dodgers secured Sasaki’s services with a $6.5 million signing bonus, which is considered a bargain, given the pitcher’s immense talent. Sasaki’s decision to come to MLB early—two years before he would have been eligible for a nine-figure deal—allowed the Dodgers to land him at a significant discount.
Like Ohtani, Sasaki made his big announcement on Instagram before it was reported by any stateside media outlets, continuing the trend of Japanese stars making major life announcements directly through social media.
With the pressure of high expectations and personal milestones, all eyes will be on Sasaki as he takes the mound for his MLB debut, hoping to live up to the hype surrounding his arrival.
