Roki Sasaki's fastball can top 101 miles (161.6 kilometres) per hour. The one that hit the Czech Republic's Willie Escala in his left knee was about that speed.
Last Saturday, during Japan's Group B game against the Czech Republic, it was the top of the fourth, and Japan was leading, 3-1, with one out and the bases empty. The count was 1-2. Escala couldn't get away from an inside pitch.
Fortunately, Escala was able to stay in the game. Sasaki left after getting on strikes third baseman Filip Smola, his eighth strike out of the day. Japan won the game 10-2.
Sasaki thought there was something else he needed to do. The day after he asked to meet Escala and apologized, gifting the Czech player two bags of candy.
Sasaki, 21, is the most exciting young pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). During the 2022 season, he became the 16th pitcher in NPB history to throw a perfect game.
Sasaki represented Japan at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019.
He lost his father, grandparents and his home during the devastating Great Sendai earthquake in March 2011.
Escala, 23, has appeared in 194 games at the collegiate level in the US. He played for the University of Miami during the 2022 season.
