Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki said on Friday he has agreed to join Major League Baseball's reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sasaki's nickname is a tribute to legendary Japanese starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was known as the "Monster of the Heisei," referring to different eras of the Japanese calendar. The 23-year-old lost both his father and grandfather during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Roki Sasaki, the prized 23-year-old Japanese right-hander, has signed with the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers, he announced Friday.

Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers

Rōki Sasaki, the 23-year-old phenom from Japan whose services for the next six seasons could be procured by every Major League Baseball franchise for the equivalent of a rounding error, ended his six-week recruiting period by agreeing to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday,

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller speaks out after his team's failed pursuit of Roki Sasaki, who chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.