David Price, the legendary player of the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB), praised Rocky Sasaki. Price is a former left-hander with 157 MLB wins. In 2012, he also received the American League Cy Young Award.
Price recalled his professional debut season on Nov. 24 as he looked back on Sasaki’s current season on MLB Network.
Price was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays with the first round pick in the 2007 MLB Rookie Draft. He made his MLB debut in September 2008. He had only five regular-season experiences (first starter), but he used the “Miracle of a Rookie” in the postseason.
사진 확대 David Price’s playing days. 사진=AFPBBNews=News1 
사진 확대 Loki Sasaki. Photo = The Canadian Press via AP= Yonhap News 
사진 확대 Loki Sasaki. 사진=AFPBBNews=News1
Price changed his position as a closing pitcher in the 2008 postseason and recorded one save and an ERA of 1.59 in five games. Price contributed to advancing to the World Series for the first time in Tampa Bay’s history.
Price has won double digits for the next eight years in a row. In 2012, when he won 20 games, he won the Cy Young Award.
In Price’s eyes, Sasaki is a pitcher who reminds him of his rookie season in the past.
After becoming the best pitcher in Japanese professional baseball, Sasaki started his MLB challenge by wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform this year.
MLB was no pushover.
사진 확대 Loki Sasaki. 사진=ⓒAFPBBNews = News1
Sasaki pitched in 10 MLB regular league games this season. He played eight games as a starter and two games as a bullpen.
Sasaki’s regular league performance this season was 1-1, 2 holds and an ERA of 4.46.
Sasaki spent a long time immersed in rehabilitation due to a shoulder injury. Sasaki seemed to wrap up the regular league this season by promising next year.
Sasaki, who did, was at the center of the Dodgers, which won its second consecutive World Series title. It was a godsend to switch from a starter to a bullpen pitcher at the end of the MLB regular league.
Sasaki pitched 10 ⅔ innings in nine games from the wild card series to the World Series, recording a 0.84 ERA with three holds, three saves, five walks and six strikeouts.
사진 확대 Loki Sasaki. Photo = AP = Courtesy of Yonhap News
Sasaki will return to the starting lineup next year.
“I would have done anything to stay in the MLB,” Price said, looking at Sasaki.
“Experiencing the postseason at a young age is a very valuable asset. Sasaki was with the team in every game, and he caught an out count in the big game. This will be very helpful for Sasaki’s growth,” he said.
Price added, “I know how hard Sasaki was at the beginning of this season. I was in a slump because I didn’t get the results I expected. However, Sasaki did not collapse. I got back on my feet. Filled in the shortcomings in the minor leagues, and returned to a healthy body. In the postseason, the Dodgers did the necessary role perfectly. Sasaki is more looking forward to next year.”
[Lee Geunseung, MK Sports Reporter]