VIDEO: Japanese HS Pitcher Rouki Sasaki Can Throw 99 MPH
By Michael Luciano
Are you desperately looking for the next Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, or Masahiro Tanaka to dominate Japanese baseball before making his grand entrance to the MLB? Look no further than high school legend Rouki Sasaki. During the eighth inning of his start, Sasaki topped out at around 99.4 miles per hour. He ended up throwing a 12-inning complete game that featured 194 pitches.
Top Japanese HS prospect Rouki Sasaki hitting 160 kmph (~99.4 mph) during today's game. Happened during the 8th inning. He ended up throwing 194 pitches in a 12-inning CG. pic.twitter.com/Qmj50CnqWn
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) July 21, 2019
While 194 pitches at that velocity on a high school arm is daring the baseball gods not to tear his UCL, Sasaki's impressive velocity is undeniably hard to hit and should serve him well in his professional career.
Sasaki might be a little more Ohtani than traditional starting pitcher, as he's also got a great deal of power in his bat. Sasaki ended this game with a tie-breaking, two-run home run.
Japanese HS phenom Rouki Sasaki touched 160 km/hr (~99mph) today in a 3rd-round game of the Iwate prefecture championships. Threw 194 pitches in a 12-inning complete game. His 2-run HR in the 12th advanced Ofunato HS to the quarterfinals. https://t.co/VJaNqMj1lQ
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) July 21, 2019
In the start before this one, Sasaki threw six no-hit innings while touching 96 consistently. Maybe phenom is selling this kid short.
High School right-hander Rouki Sasaki tossed 6 no-hit innings while touching 96 in a regional tournament game https://t.co/ChEkaFnWVt
— Kazuto Yamazaki (@Kazuto_Yamazaki) July 18, 2019
Earlier this year, Sasaki broke Ohtani's high-school velocity record of 99.7 miles per hour when he touched 101 on the gun.
Japanese 12th grader Rouki Sasaki clocked at 101 mph, breaks Shohei Ohtani’s national high school velocity record. From the same prefecture as Ohtani. https://t.co/lXT87Hp1L2
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) April 6, 2019
Once Sasaki is done dominating Iwata Prefecture baseball, expect to see him dominating hitters in the NPB and MLB.