The baseball world is buzzing as Roki Sasaki prepares for his long-awaited MLB debut during the Tokyo Series in Japan’s capital city. At just 23 years old, armed with a blazing fastball and a devastating splitter, Sasaki is ready to put on a show for his home crowd before officially joining the Los Angeles Dodgers. Expectations couldn’t be higher—and one MLB insider isn’t holding back on his bold prediction.
Doug McKain, a respected voice in baseball circles, is all-in on Sasaki’s potential. “He’s not only going to win Rookie of the Year,” McKain declared, “but I predict he’ll finish Top 5 in Cy Young voting.” That’s not just optimism—it’s a serious statement, considering Sasaki has yet to throw a single MLB pitch.
It’s no secret that Sasaki has been dominant in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The right-hander posted a 1.78 ERA in 2024 with a jaw-dropping 29.9% strikeout rate. And who could forget his near-perfect game in 2022, where he struck out 19 batters and carried a perfect outing into extra innings? Scouts have compared his fastball to Jacob deGrom’s and have raved about his splitter—some even calling it as lethal as Shohei Ohtani’s.
“He’s not only going to win Rookie of the Year but I predict he’ll finish Top 5 in Cy Young votes.”
Do you agree with this prediction from our @DMAC_LA?https://t.co/kzAFxU4RJm
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) March 15, 2025
However, transitioning from NPB to MLB is no small feat. Even Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who dominated Japan and signed a record-breaking deal with the Dodgers, struggled in his early spring outings. So why is McKain so confident?
Unlike some rookies who get thrown into the fire, Roki Sasaki will slot into a rotation stacked with elite arms. Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Yamamoto will handle much of the pressure, allowing Sasaki to ease into his role without carrying the weight of an ace—at least for now.
That setup gives him the freedom to focus on execution rather than workload, a luxury not many top-tier pitching prospects receive. If Sasaki can make 20-plus starts and put up an ERA in the low 3.00s, he’ll have a legitimate shot at both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young contention.
Sasaki’s first test will be on home soil, and you better believe that Japan will be watching. If he delivers a statement performance in the Tokyo Series, McKain’s prophecy won’t seem so bold after all. It might just be inevitable.
The rookie of the year race: Who stands in Roki Sasaki’s way?
The National League Rookie of the Year race is intense this year, with talented newcomers vying for the honor alongside Roki Sasaki.
His toughest competition comes from Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers, who landed an eight-year contract extension before even playing a full MLB season. With a blend of power, speed, and elite defense, Chourio has all the tools to shine—as long as he delivers at the plate in a full-time role.
Another major name is Paul Skenes. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick boasts a blazing fastball and an aggressive mound presence—qualities reminiscent of Gerrit Cole. If the Pittsburgh Pirates let Skenes loose in the rotation from day one, he could rack up strikeouts at a historic pace and put himself squarely in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Rookies beyond the two might surprise us this season as well. Noelvi Marte from the Cincinnati Reds has already shown some flashes of greatness in 2024. And may shine brighter with a full season of at-bats under his belt. You might keep an eye out for Cade Horton from the Chicago Cubs, too. He’s got what it takes to become a player in their rotation if he keeps up his performance level.
In the end, Roki Sasaki’s main edge lies in his top-notch skills and prior experience facing opponents in the Japanese baseball scene. If he swiftly adapts to facing MLB batters and puts up stats while pitching for the Dodgers in contention for the playoffs, he could become an unbeatable contender for Rookie of the Year accolades.
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