Roki Sasaki’s father, Kota, tragically passed away in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, leaving his mother, Yoko, to raise him as a single parent.
Roki Sasaki, often called “The Monster of the Reiwa Era,” is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who has taken the sports world by storm.
Born on November 3, 2001, in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, Sasaki made headlines in 2022 when he threw a perfect game, striking out 19 batters..
In 2025, Sasaki transitioned to Major League Baseball, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 23-year-old Japanese pitching sensation, Sasaki, is making a strong comeback after being sidelined since May 9 due to a shoulder impingement.
He recently completed a bullpen session and reported feeling “no pain”, a major milestone in his rehab.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has hinted that Sasaki could be part of the 13-pitcher playoff roster, depending on his performance in upcoming simulated games and minor league rehab starts.
Roki Sasaki’s Parents: A Supportive Backbone to His Baseball Journey
Roki Sasaki was born on November 3, 2001, in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, to his late father, Kota Sasaki, and his mother, Yoko.
Kota Sasaki, Roki’s father, was a beloved figure in the family and a passionate amateur baseball player.
He practiced regularly with Roki and his older brother, nurturing their love for the sport from a young age.
On the other hand, Yoko Sasaki, his mother, played a quieter but equally vital role.
After the tragic loss of her husband and in-laws during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, Yoko became the emotional anchor for her three sons.
The couple met in their youth and built a family of seven, including Roki, his two brothers, and their grandparents.
Sadly, on March 11, 2011, the tsunami claimed the lives of Kota and Roki’s grandparents.
Their home was destroyed, and the surviving family members were forced to live in a nursing home before relocating to Ofunato City.
Despite the grief, Yoko remained resilient. She supported Roki’s baseball ambitions, even when the family had to practice on weed-covered riverbeds due to lack of space.
Their sacrifices paid off when Roki was drafted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2019 and later signed by the Dodgers in 2025.
His success is not just his own; it’s a tribute to the strength and love of his parents.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Roki Sasaki has been compared to some of the greatest pitchers in Japan’s baseball history, Hideo Nomo and Shohei Ohtani.
- Sasaki’s perfect game in 2022, in which he struck out 19 batters, was the first in Japanese professional baseball in 28 years.
