Mookie Betts Opens Up on Dodgers Signing Roki Sasaki, Meeting With Japanese Star

Mookie Betts has seen the Los Angeles Dodgers make offers this offseason that has crammed the remainder of the league with envy.

A type of strikes concerned Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who was the prize of the offseason.

Betts, who’s in Japan this week, revealed he met the 23-year-old Sasaki through the Dodgers’ second assembly with the Japanese star. Betts famous that Sasaki may be very reserved, doubtless due partly to the language barrier.

“I’m going to get him out of his shell,” Betts mentioned to reporters in a fast interview. “I’m going to snigger and joke and get him to actually embrace the American tradition. I feel that can actually assist him to be the perfect pitcher on the planet. As a result of I feel that everybody believes he can positively be the perfect pitcher on the planet.”

Shohei Ohtani’s voice was the one Sasaki may relate to probably the most. In any case, he was in the identical spot years in the past. Since then, Ohtani has develop into the perfect participant in baseball profitable Rookie of the 12 months and three MVPs.

Extra information: Insane Particulars on Dodgers’ Successful Pitch to Roki Sasaki Formally Revealed

Sasaki has not but shared particulars about his recruitment course of or the extent to which Dodgers gamers influenced his determination. Nevertheless, throughout the workforce, vital credit score has been given to the gamers’ efforts, notably the impression of Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

“Roki is basically, actually mushy spoken,” Betts mentioned. “You may inform that he’ll love being round Yoshi (Yamamoto) and Shohei. I feel that can actually assist him quite a bit.”

One other voice that helped Sasaki make his determination was Tyler Glasnow, who can be a consumer of Joel Wolfe.

“I referred to as my agent and he was like, ‘Oh, I’m with Roki.’ I used to be like, ‘Oh, I’ll say what’s up,’” Glasnow informed the Foul Territory podcast just lately.

“If one among your primary objectives is to develop into the perfect pitcher you possibly can probably be, development-wise, scouting report-wise and all that stuff, I used to be like, that is the place for you,” Glasnow mentioned, and added that he informed Sasaki whether or not his motivation was “cash or profitable, that is the perfect place to develop as a baseball participant. That was my message.”

Ultimately, Sasaki selected the Dodgers and could have the chance to chase his dream of turning into the perfect pitcher in baseball.

Extra information: Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki Meets LeBron James, Rui Hachimura at Lakers Sport, Will get Customized Jersey

Obligatory Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Pictures

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