Star Pitcher Roki Sasaki May be Posted in the 2024-25 Offseason
According to a report made by Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post on Sunday, Major League Baseball teams are “planning” for the Chiba Lotte Marines to post star pitcher Roki Sasaki during the 2024-25 MLB offseason.
Sasaki is the undisputed top pitcher in NPB at only 22 years old. He is playing his fourth season in NPB with the Marines and already has an impressive resume. He holds the world record for consecutive strikeouts in a game with 13 and threw a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes on April 10, 2022.
Sasaki’s fastball can reach as high as 103 mph, and he throws a devastating splitter. He is 4-2 with a 2.18 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 53.2 innings thus far in 2024.
NPB Interleague Play Began Tuesday
Interleague play between Central League and Pacific League teams began on Tuesday. Each organization will play one three-game series against each of the six teams in the opposing league.
Before 2005, interleague games between Central and Pacific League teams only occurred during NPB spring training. When interleague play concludes, the next time two teams from different leagues will meet is the Japan Series.
The 2023 Japan Series rematch between the Hanshin Tigers and the Orix Buffaloes will take place from June 11 to 13 at the Kyocera Dome Osaka, home of the Buffaloes.
Orix Buffaloes Sign RHP Luis Perdomo
Yahoo! Japan reports the Orix Buffaloes signed Dominican right-handed pitcher Luis Perdomo on Tuesday.
Perdomo spent the 2023 season with the Chiba Lotte Marines and led the NPB with 41 holds. He began his professional baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals as an international free agent in 2010 and made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2016.
Given Perdomo’s success out of the bullpen last season for the Marines, he should play a pivotal role for the Buffaloes for the rest of the year. Before signing his contract with Orix, Perdomo posted a 0.96 ERA in 10 games with the Toros de Tijuana in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
This Day in Japanese Baseball History
On May 28, 1962, the 1956 National League MVP and Cy Young Don Newcombe signed a contract to play with the Chunichi Dragons of NPB.
Before playing the final season of his career with the Dragons, Newcombe played in the Negro Leagues with the Newark Eagles (1944-45) and Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1949-51, 1954-58), Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds (1958-60), and Cleveland Guardians (1960).
Newcombe played one season in NPB as an outfielder and first baseman. In 81 games, he hit .262 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. Newcombe only made one appearance on the mound with Chunichi.
NPB Standings as of Tuesday, May 28
Central League
Pacific League
