In a few years, baseball fans everywhere are going to know the name Roki Sasaki. The 21-year-old pitching phenom from Japan wowed the baseball world last season when he nearly threw two consecutive perfect games in Japan’s NPB.
It turns out that his sportsmanship is also worth the big-league hype.
During Japan’s Pool B game against the Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic, Sasaki hit the Czech Republic’s William Escala around the knee with a 101 mph fastball. Escala was understandably in some pain, but he remained in the game. That’s when we saw some amazing sportsmanship from Sasaki. On the field, Sasaki removed his cap and gestured to Escala to apologize.
Roki apologize to Czech player that he HBP 🥹🥹🥹🥺🥺🥺 https://t.co/OUlFf8IrdY
— Sara ¹⁷ 日村 (@sarasahrah) March 11, 2023
And after the game, Sasaki made an effort to meet up with Escala and offer an extended apology, which included two giant gift bags.
Team Japan pitcher Roki Sasaki gifted Team Czech Republic's William Escala with 2 giant bags of candy to apologize for hitting him with a pitch on Saturday 🤝pic.twitter.com/aD4tX8ay4R
— SuperBook Sports (@SuperBookSports) March 13, 2023
Roki Sasaki, Sportsmanship. 🫂 pic.twitter.com/MmGgxr4ptH
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 13, 2023
While Sasaki has a bright big-league career ahead of him, the Czech team was comprised of mostly amateurs who work day jobs in the Czech Republic. They were huge underdogs in the World Baseball Classic, and Japan obviously didn’t want to see any of them get hurt. Sasaki knew that, and Escala (one of the few Czech players with even college baseball experience) clearly appreciated the gesture.
Fans also loved seeing that respect between the two teams.
This was how Twitter reacted
Good to see this sportsmanship and great to see William Escala able to walk okay after taking 101 in the knee. https://t.co/DBqTQXrkZt
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 13, 2023
Roki such a gentlement 👏 https://t.co/S02C2QbN2T
— Rahma (@FranksieNumb8) March 13, 2023
RESPECT 佐々木朗希😉👍 https://t.co/dtAfx0UQ1A
— 昭和の野球バカ 金森潤熙 (@MLB_Connection) March 13, 2023
👏🇯🇵🇨🇿⚾️ https://t.co/qxwz7E03DN
— David Bauer (@DavidBauer01) March 13, 2023
Excellent. Mutual respect. ✨
May your pain heal quickly.🥰 https://t.co/T7PAb0Y8Qe— Rurilove (@Rurilove78) March 13, 2023
Roki visited the Czech Republic's hotel and visited Escala to apologize for hitting him with a deadball, even brought a bag of sweets for him. He felt bad for that pitch 😭😭 Really the sweetest kid!!!
— sabbie ☀️💙 (@hello_caramello) March 13, 2023
Baseball needs more players like Sasaki — all class.
