Sasaki's nickname is a tribute to legendary Japanese starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was known as the "Monster of the Heisei," referring to different eras of the Japanese calendar. The 23-year-old lost both his father and grandfather during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki said on Friday he has agreed to join Major League Baseball's reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, the hottest international free agent in baseball, is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he announced on social media Friday. The 23-year-old right-hander said he signed a minor-league deal. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Japanese prodigy Roki Sasaki announced on Friday he is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers following a frenzied Major League Baseball battle for the coveted pitcher's signature.

This move, of course, comes just days after they landed Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki. The defending champs are now even deeper with the addition of Scott, who has been one of

The Los Angeles Dodgers added onto what’s been a successful offseason and past year when Roki Sasaki announced his signing decision on Instagram. The Dodgers were the favorites among teams in pursuit of the 23-year-old but the outcome angered some who believe there was backdoor agreements in place.

Roki Sasaki announced on Friday that he’ll join the Dodgers, doing so in an Instagram post. The Dodgers signed the 23-year-old pitcher from Japan for a reported $6.5 million signing bonus. A pair of minor league outfielders were traded for the Dodgers to add international bonus pool space to bolster their offer for Sasaki.

Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.