Takeru Sasaki

Sasaki was drafted by the Saitama Seibu Lions with the team's 2nd pick in the 2020 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.^{[citation needed]}

On June 11, 2021, Sasaki made his NPB debut, pitching two scoreless innings against the Chunichi Dragons. On July 2, Sasaki became the first player in NPB history to be ejected while facing the first batter of the game. His 3rd pitch of the game hit Orix Buffaloes leadoff hitter Shuhei Fukuda in the head, which resulted in an automatic ejection.^[1] He finished his rookie campaign making 5 appearances, struggling to an 8.31 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 8+2⁄3 innings of work.

In 2022, Sasaki made 37 appearances for Seibu, posting a 3-0 record and 3.03 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 29+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[2]

Sasaki did not make an appearance for Seibu during the 2024 season. He returned to action in 2025, logging an 0-3 record and 5.02 ERA with eight strikeouts in 14+1⁄3 innings pitched across 15 appearances.

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)