The down payment is only 6.5 million U.S. dollars. Nevertheless, the reason why Loki Sasaki (24) of the Los Angeles Dodgers rushed to advance to the U.S. was disclosed. It was because of lingering concerns over his injury.안전놀이터

Sasaki appeared on Japan's NHK news program on the 22nd and revealed the background of the Dodgers' transfer through "Exclusive Coverage: Behind the Story of Sasaki's Major League Transfer."

According to Sports Hochi, Sasaki said, "I've always been on the verge of injury since I was a student," adding, "I've always fought with fear that I can't throw anymore," adding that the reason for the transfer was the injury that has not been disclosed so far.

Sasaki played in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for only four seasons and challenged himself to the Major League. He had to face many criticisms in Japan. He clearly differed significantly from Otani, who left the team after giving it the championship. Critics said that he lacked contribution to Japanese baseball. There was no reason for Chiba Lotte to help him advance to the U.S. The transfer fee that he could earn from entering the U.S. was also extremely limited.

He came to the market after the club's permission, but he was only allowed to sign a contract within the limited bonus pool of each club as a player under the age of 25. Considering Shohei Ohtani touched a huge sum of $700 million (KRW 1.59 trillion) for 10 years and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Los Angeles Dodgers) for 12 years, it was not easy to understand the decision that he could not endure for two years. Sasaki signed a $6.5 million contract with the Dodgers.

However, the confession that his own concerns about injury were so great helps him understand why he rushed to enter the U.S.

Sasaki was injured during batting training ahead of his first professional season in 2020, and he went around several hospitals saying, "I had a torn right elbow and was undergoing rehabilitation, but it didn't heal well." He was unable to pitch in his usual form, and some doctors suggested he should have Tommy John surgery. "I really didn't know when I would not be able to play baseball, be able to pitch, or be able to do it anymore before I even pitched as a professional," Sasaki recalled.

Even before joining the professional baseball league, the injury was like a nightmare following Sasaki. I was reminded of the fact that when I was a senior in high school, I couldn't pitch due to the risk of injury, and ended up as the runner-up. "(After losing the final) I realized that all I can do is succeed in the professional baseball league and as a baseball player," he said. "Since I have been working in stages or adjustment since joining Lotte, I was really nervous about how to express such an injury when it happens."

The cause of the pain was later determined. He said he had nerve strain and pain inside his elbow due to poor shoulder condition, but his ligament was fine. Nevertheless, he said a key reason for his decision to move was also due to concerns over his injury.

Sasaki said, "I thought (a player's career) could be reversed by one pitch, and I thought it was best to go out to MLB right now and grow rather than wait two years without knowing what the future holds."

During his four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki recorded 29-15 losses, 2.10 ERA, and 505 strikeouts (11.5 in nine innings) in 394 ⅔ innings. He was called the ace of Japanese baseball along with Ohtani and Yamamoto for his maximum 165 kilometers per hour and huge splitter of dropouts called "ghost folk."

However, MLB clubs were fully aware of the injury concerns. Sasaki was an injury-ridden player who had never pitched more than 130 innings in the NPB.

Nevertheless, Sasaki came to the market very cheaply and there was no reason to consider recruiting him. This is why there was a fierce competition for recruitment.

However, the Dodgers is also likely to follow Sasaki due to concerns over his injury. How well he manages his injury will be an important variable in his success at the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers posted a composite photo of Sasaki wearing a Dodgers uniform on the club's official SNS (social network service) and announced that "Welcome to Los Angeles."

The club also released a photo of Sasaki who visited Dodger Stadium wearing a blue suit symbolizing the Dodgers to attend the official joining press conference.