An assessor from the Los Angeles Dodgers stood in the seats with a video camera six years ago to record the beauty of a lanky 17-year-old Japanese pitcher when the world knew very little about him. Roki Sasaki's right arm was a natural tornado, and his fastball often surpassed 100 mph. The Dodgers couldn't get enough. Team executives whispered between themselves that Sasaki had the potential to become the top pitcher in the world. To top it all off, they wanted to make sure he felt as committed to them as they did to him before he stepped into Major League Baseball.
Since then, the Dodgers have dominated baseball in practically every way conceivable. They have lost no cost in pursuing victory, fueled by their owners' enormous fortune and supported by the game's most outstanding local broadcast deal. In addition to their continuously top-ranked big league salary, they also have best-in-class technology infrastructure, remuneration for the coaching staff, and food quality for minor league players.
There was no need for a sales presentation from the Dodgers when 23-year-old Sasaki announced his plans to join the Major League Baseball team this winter. The team's growing dynasty is an apparent draw for athletes who desire to win. The Dodgers have successfully remade themselves since being sold to the Guggenheim Baseball Management group in 2012, following the disastrous ownership of Frank McCourt that caused the team to file for bankruptcy. Since then, they have won 11 National League West titles in 12 years, defeated their October rivals twice in five years, and dominated the Japanese baseball market with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto signings for over $1 billion guaranteed.
