Why Are the Dodgers the Top Destination for Japanese Stars?
The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are coming to an end on January 23rd, 2025. This is when the 23-year-old pitching phenom from Japan’s posting window expires to sign with an MLB team. The latest reports state that Sasaki has narrowed down his choices to the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Dodgers are seen by most as the favorites as Japanese superstars are flocking to them like there is no tomorrow. There are reasons why the Dodgers or West Coast teams hold the most value for players from Japan. They can be narrowed down to location, money, chemistry, and Shohei Ohtani.
Geography has become a game-changing advantage for MLB West Coast teams as they are located closer to Japan than any place in the United States. This has been cited as an attraction for stars like Ohtani and last year's big Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The flight time from Los Angeles to Tokyo is nearly 12 hours long. When you consider that going the length of the United States only doubles that flight time, you can see why Japanese players find it more comfortable playing in California.
One must not also discount the fact that since the late 80s, the Dodgers were the first team to be all in on Japanese players, beginning with famed pitcher Hideo Nomo. In addition, hurlers like Hiroki Kuroda and Yu Darvish also established themselves during the next two decades. They burned into the memories of young Japanese future stars who recall their favorites playing in MLB. Now, with Yamamoto and Ohtani, this has only reinforced this notion with Sasaki looking to follow this tradition of playing for the defending World Series Champions in the third oldest stadium in MLB.
Money always plays a part. The Dodgers are not afraid to pay the price for top talent. They are in a big market franchise that has also proven to be resourceful and creative. The recent Ohtani contract, which spans 10 years and $700 million, is a case in point. They used a tactic no one has used in a large contract by deferring the largest portion of this record contract. By doing this, the Dodgers were able to acquire other top talent to reinforce the club to the tune of a World Championship in 2024.
In Los Angeles, the Dodgers have given international players from Japan the best chance to be effective by playing to their strengths. The differences in how starters compete in Japan, from pitching fewer innings and long periods between starts, are considered. The Dodgers' depth allows pitchers like Yamamoto in 2024 and with Sasaki not to have to carry a heavy workload. This especially helps Sasaki, who has pitched over 100 innings only twice in a six-year career. The Dodgers, with the lone exception of Ohtani, do not place pressure on their Japanese players to be stars per se but just be themselves as key complementary pieces that complete the overall puzzle.
Finally, the Ohtani effect cannot be ignored. After spending the last few years with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani has now arrived in one of the largest media capitals in MLB. Shohei, with his elite hitting and pitching skills, has been compared to the one player who excelled in both these areas by the name of Babe Ruth. Ohtani is as big as Ruth in Japan and his presence in Los Angeles has served as a lightning rod for other stars to come there. In fact, the current World Baseball Classic Champions are congregating and if Sasaki signs with the Dodgers, it will not surprise anyone as Los Angeles has become the final destination for Japanese baseball superstars.
