Roki Sasaki impresses in Dodgers bullpen debut

Roki Sasaki, the highly touted Japanese pitcher, recently threw his first bullpen session with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Despite feeling a bit nervous, Sasaki showcased his powerful fastball and a unique splitter, throwing 35 pitches under the watchful eyes of team coaches and media. He signed a minor league contract worth $6.5 million after leaving Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines and could potentially pitch in the Dodgers' second regular-season game against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 19. Sasaki is one of three Japanese players on the Dodgers, alongside Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and is seen as a promising addition to the team. His previous accomplishments include an impressive streak of 17 consecutive perfect innings in Japan. The Dodgers are set to begin their spring training games soon, with their first game scheduled for February 20.