Chihaya Sasaki

Chihaya Sasaki (佐々木 千隼)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 183 lbs.

• School J.F. Oberlin University
• High School Hino High School

• Born June 8, 1994 in Hino, Tokyo, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Chihaya Sasaki has pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Sasaki was drafted by the Yokohama BayStars, Hiroshima Carp, Nippon Ham Fighters, Yomiuri Giants and Chiba Lotte Marines in the redraft part of the 2016 NPB draft. After all teams had passed on him in the initial picks, all five teams that didn't get their first choice then picked Sasaki! The Marines won the lottery. It was the first time that five teams drafted the same player in the redraft part. Sasaki joined the rotation in his rookie year, and he recorded a 4.22 ERA in 14 starts in his rookie year. However, he suffered a right elbow injury, so he only pitched 12 games combined in the next three seasons.

The Hino native had his career year in 2021. He was turned into a reliever, and he notched 26 holds with a very solid 1.26 ERA in 54 appearances. He ranked 9th in the Pacific League in appearances (13 behind Naoya Masuda) and 4th in holds (13 behind Mizuki Hori). Sasaki replaced Naoyuki Uwasawa in the 7th inning of 2021 NPB All-Star Game 1, and pitched a shutout inning. He went 1-2-3 against Koji Chikamoto, Hayato Sakamoto and Teruaki Sato. He pitched a shutout inning in game 1 of the first stage in the 2021 PLCS, then notched a hold with a shutout inning and helped the Marines eliminate the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Game 2. He only had one appearances in the final stage, in Game 3, and he pitched a shutout inning to get a hold. The Marines were swept by the Orix Buffaloes. Sasaki struggled in 2022 as his ERA rose to 6.39, and he only got two appearances in 2023. The Yokohama BayStars then drafted him in the 2023 NPB Active draft.

Sasaki's repertoire features a fastball that peaks at 95 mph, a forkball, sinker and a slider.