Dodger Stadium remains under construction, in the midst of significant offseason renovations for the defending World Series champions.
But hundreds of reporters flocked to Chavez Ravine on Wednesday, nonetheless, to witness the team introduce one of the final key pieces of its 2025 roster.
Less than a week after announcing he would sign with the Dodgers in one of this offseason’s major free agency coups, 23-year-old Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki was introduced by the team at a celebratory news conference — the latest star-player reception for a team that has been stockpiling them over the last several winters.
“Putting on this Dodgers uniform today, I’m reminded that my journey is just about to begin,” the pitcher said through interpreter Will Ireton after slipping into a white No. 11 jersey. “And it makes me feel more focused than ever.”
Read more: ‘They all wanted him here.’ How Shohei Ohtani, other Dodgers helped recruit Roki Sasaki
Introductory news conferences are nothing new for the Dodgers.
They held two last offseason to consummate their acquisitions of fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Twice already this offseason, club brass had taken a stage in the right-field Stadium Club to welcome two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and welcome back fan favorite Teoscar Hernández.
Another ceremony could be on the horizon soon with the team having agreed to a deal with top free-agent reliever Tanner Scott last weekend.
Sasaki’s arrival, however, was a unique affair, with the hard-throwing right-hander being hailed as a key — and economical — part of the team’s future after inking a minor league contract with a $6.5-million signing bonus that was finalized Wednesday.
Sasaki was restricted to such a modest deal, as he signed as an international amateur because he came over from Japan before turning 25. But it belied the tantalizing potential he is bringing to the Southland, where Dodgers officials hope he can quickly develop into a bona fide big league ace.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman described Sasaki as “one of the most electrifying and promising talents in the game.”
“This is truly an exciting moment for the Los Angeles Dodgers…