The Next Wave of Japanese Talent That Could Become Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have invested in becoming THE MLB franchise in Japan over the past couple of decades, and it has paid dividends in the 2020s. The Dodgers have a long history of scouting talent in Japan, which has helped usher them into the MLB and made them feel at home and comfortable on the team. They have grown their Japanese fanbase as a result, leading sponsors and talent like Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to circle the Dodgers as a team they want to play for.

With Sasaki, Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani , three Japanese megastars, the Dodgers are a true destination and favorite to sign any Japanese free agent that they aggressively pursue. Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) and pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) celebrate with the Commissioner’s Trophy in the clubhouse after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E.

Sokolowski-Imagn Images Yamamoto and Ohtani were both part of the 2026 Samurai Japan squad, and considering how much their profiles have been raised since becoming Dodgers players, the rest of the Japanese roster was no doubt asking about life with the Dodgers. Here are some Japanese players that the Japanese duo could have been recruiting to continue developing the talent from Japan: Teruaki Sato Sato is the best non-MLB bat in Japan’s lineup, having secured a breakout season in 2025. He hit 40 home runs, drove in 102 runs, and had an OPS of .

924. He fits a similar mold to Munetaka Murakami, who signed with the White Sox, with good power but a good number of strikeouts from his aggressive slugging approach. Sato can hit balls hard on a regular basis, but his third base defense is nothing to write home about.