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Dodgers officially welcome Roki Sasaki, plan 'to hit the ground running' with pitcher

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Dodgers officially welcome Roki Sasaki, plan 'to hit the ground running' with pitcher

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.”

Introductory news conferences are nothing new for the Dodgers.

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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.

It was a modest deal to which Sasaki was restricted because he signed as an international amateur before turning 25. And it belied the tantalizing potential he is bringing to the Southland, where Dodgers officials hope he quickly can 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.”

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“This is truly an exciting moment for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization,” Friedman said, smiling back at Sasaki on the stage. “You will not only add to our rich legacy, but you will also play an instrumental part in helping us write the next chapter in Dodgers history.”

In addition to Sasaki and Friedman, the Dodgers’ top executives and manager filled the makeshift stage on the right field loge level. General manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts were there, as was club president Stan Kasten. In the first row of folding chairs sat members of the Dodgers’ Guggenheim ownership group.

Like last year’s news conferences for Ohtani and Yamamoto, the Guggenheim name also was prominently displayed on the podium alongside the Dodgers’ logo.

A new twist this time: Wednesday’s event opened with a highlight video of Sasaki that played over an announcement by Dodger Stadium public address announcer Todd Leitz: “Now on the mound for the Dodgers — Roki Sasaki.”

For years the Dodgers dreamed of hosting such an event, long coveting Sasaki as he excelled in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league — he had a career 2.10 earned-run average in four years, albeit while never making more than 20 starts in a season — and earned a reputation as one of the most talented pitchers in the world.

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With his upper-90s fastball, devastating splitter and steadily improving slider, the team’s hope is that the 6-foot-4 hurler will be able to quickly adapt to the majors and become an instant contributor in next season’s World Series title defense.

At the same time, the team built its pitch to Sasaki on also cultivating his long-term development, selling itself as the franchise where he would be best positioned to achieve his goal of becoming the best player in the world.

“I know this year I’m going to have a lot of new experiences,” Sasaki said. “Since I signed a minor league contract, my goal is first and foremost to beat the competition and make sure that I do get a major league contract.”

Not that there’s much doubt about that.

“Our plan is to start him,” Friedman said. “The plan is to hit the ground running in spring training and have him be a big part of helping us win games.”

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Sasaki described his free-agent process as “incredibly difficult” after going through an initial round of meetings with a handful of teams before narrowing them down to three finalists in the Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.

“I am deeply honored that many teams reached out to me with such enthusiasm,” Sasaki said, “especially considering I haven’t achieved much in Japan.”

Sasaki didn’t offer many specifics about what influenced his choice, but cited the Dodgers’ “front office stability” as one key factor.

“I had the opportunity to speak to a lot of teams, and they had a lot of appealing features,” Sasaki said. “But overall, when I looked at the general consensus, I thought that the Dodgers were at the top.”

One dynamic Sasaki downplayed was the presence of Ohtani and Yamamoto on the team, saying it “wasn’t a priority for me” to play alongside fellow Japanese stars.

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Nonetheless, when Sasaki informed his two former Team Japan teammates of his decision, he said they immediately welcomed him to the club, the first of many warm receptions that has marked Sasaki’s celebrated arrival.

“Being able to play with Ohtani and Yamamoto, both exceptional players, really looking forward to playing with them,” he said. “And not just them, but the rest of the team, which is incredibly talented as well. So I’m going to work toward making sure that I can stand side by side with them.”

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Growing forfeits in soccer because of ineligible players could spur change to CIF bylaw

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Growing forfeits in soccer because of ineligible players could spur change to CIF bylaw

Forfeits by high school boys’ soccer teams in the City Section and Southern Section playoffs continued Friday as both sections try to deal with violations of CIF Bylaw 600, which prohibits players from participating in outside leagues during their sports season.

Calabasas pulled out of the Southern Section Division 3 championship because of an ineligible player. Chavez became the sixth City Section school eliminated from the playoffs for using an ineligible player and was replaced by Chatsworth for the City Division I final.

There’s also an allegation about another Southern Section team that could result in another forfeit in the final.

Some high schools thought they had found a solution by not allowing players to play until after their club seasons ended in early December. Cathedral had several players miss its first three games because of several big club tournaments in November and early December.

“You communicate to students and parents,” Cathedral coach Arturo Lopez said. “Unfortunately, there’s more and more academies now.”

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Ron Nocetti, the executive director of the CIF, said, “I think we have to have conversations with our sections.”

CIF membership repeatedly has rejected the proposal of getting rid of Bylaw 600. Schools don’t want to have their coaches battling it out weekly with club coaches, which also would place additional pressure on athletes dealing with school work and then having to do double workouts.

The balancing act for students already is tough enough, with the amount of club teams growing in a lot of sports because it’s a lucrative business. The CIF briefly suspended the rule during the pandemic in 2020 but quickly reinstated it.

The problem is club soccer programs are holding competitions in the middle of the high school season, and players, knowing the rule that you can’t play high school and club at the same time, apparently have decided to try to do both with the hope of not getting caught.

This year, they are getting caught. Emails alleging violations started arriving to City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos before the semifinals. If a player is found to have played club, the high school team has to forfeit, and if it happens during the playoffs, the team is eliminated.

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Usually the pressure is on schools to make sure rules are not violated, but for Bylaw 600, schools can do everything right and still be punished for a player violating the rule on their own.

Several leagues are expected to present proposals to get rid of Bylaw 600. Nocetti said membership might be open to adopting changes.

“Maybe this is a tipping point for schools saying maybe it’s time to make a big change with the rule,” he said.

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Anthony Richardson free to seek trade after injury setbacks amid Colts’ shift to Daniel Jones

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Anthony Richardson free to seek trade after injury setbacks amid Colts’ shift to Daniel Jones

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Anthony Richardson Sr.’s future in Indianapolis faces more uncertainty than ever. 

The Indianapolis Colts granted Anthony Richardson, the team that used the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on the quarterback, permission to explore a trade. His agent, Deiric Jackson, confirmed the latest development in the 23-year-old’s tumultuous career to ESPN on Thursday.

Veteran quarterback Daniel Jones beat out Richardson in a preseason competition for the starting job. Jones made the most of another opportunity as an NFL starter, helping the Colts win eight of their first 10 games of the 2025 regular season. 

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson heads off the field after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

However, his season was ultimately derailed by an Achilles injury. The setback came two years after he tore an ACL with the New York Giants. The Colts appear ready to move forward with Jones, clouding Richardson’s future in Indianapolis.

Jones is set to become a free agent in March, meaning the Colts must either use the franchise tag or sign him to a new deal. Richardson has started just 15 games in three seasons with the Colts, his tenure largely shaped by injuries. 

A shoulder surgery limited Richardson to four games during his rookie campaign, while a series of setbacks cost him four games in 2024. 

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks for an open receiver during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

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Richardson suffered what was described as a “freak pregame incident” during warmups last season, landing him on injured reserve after attempting just two passes in two games in 2025. He has thrown 11 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in his NFL career. 

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday that the vision problems stemming from Richardson’s orbital fracture last October are “trending in the right direction.” He added that Richardson has been “cleared to play.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates his touchdown against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is expected to return to the Colts next season.

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When asked about Richardson’s standing with the Colts moving ahead, Ballard replied, “I still believe in Anthony.”

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Prep talk: Freshman golfer William Hudson of St. John Bosco wins Servite Invitational

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Prep talk: Freshman golfer William Hudson of St. John Bosco wins Servite Invitational

William Hudson, a 14-year-old freshman golfer, shot 71 on Monday at Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills to win the Servite Invitational.

“It was very important to me and my school,” Hudson said.

Some think it’s the first time a St. John Bosco student won an invitational title.

Hudson is a straight-A student who picked up his first golf club when he was 3. He has a daily routine involving practicing at 6 a.m. before heading to school. He’s also enrolled in a school entrepreneur program that involves taking classes at a junior college that will qualify for college credits.

“They are long days, but I get through it,” Hudson said.

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He comes from a family that enjoys golf. His great-grandfather played until his death at 98 last year.

“I love how it can take me to interesting places and meet interesting people,” Hudson said. “I can play for the rest of my life. It’s a lifelong sport.”

It’s looking like another strong year for golfers in Southern California, with several individual champions returning, including Jaden Soong of St. Francis and Grant Leary of Crespi.

Now Hudson has thrust himself into the conversation.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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