Roki Sasaki is the announced pitcher to pitch against Mexico in the World Baseball Classic semifinals. The 21-year-old right-hander is a Japanese baseball sensation in just his second professional year.
In Japan, Sasaki pitches with the Chiba Lotte Marines and in his second season he finished with a record of 9 wins and 4 losses, 2.02 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 123 innings of work.
At 1.88 meters tall, the Japanese right-hander has a range of pitches and with a fastball that can even hit 103 miles per hour, surpassing the speed of his compatriot Shohei Ohtani.
In his only World Baseball Classic start he faced the Czech Republic and pitched 3.2 innings and finished with 8 strikeouts, he received hits and had an unearned run.
The Japanese hit Czech Republic player William Escala with a 101 mph fastball and Sasaki had a great gesture.
Sasaki presented him with two large bags of candy as a gesture of apology plus a ball signed by the 21-year-old. which is expected to be the next star in the Japan Professional League (NPB).
Sasaki will be able to pitch more in this matchup against Mexico after expanding from 65 to 80 pitches for starters in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal round.
The semifinal match will take place on Monday, March 20 at the Loan Depot Park in Miami at 7:00 pm ET. For its part, Mexico announced Patrick Sandoval as the pitcher to face the difficult Japanese slugger.
Sandoval pitched against the United States in his first World Baseball Classic appearance in a big way. The Mexican pitcher did it in three innings, two hits and allowed one earned run. In addition, the victory against Team USA was credited.
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