Another Japanese Ace Heads Abroad: Implications for Pitcher Sasaki Rōki’s Move to Major League Baseball

Sasaki Rōki, second from left, and other members of the Ōfunato team hold back tears following their loss to Hanamaki Higashi in the final game of the Iwate prefectural tournament on July 25, 2019. (© Jiji)

Baseball agent Joel Wolfe addresses sports journalists in Dallas, Texas, on December 10, 2024. (© Reuters)

Yakult Swallows slugger Murakami Munetaka heads toward first at Tokyo’s Jingū Stadium on August 13, 2024. Murakami indicated his interest in moving to MLB at the end of the season. (© Jiji)