Los Angeles – After more than a year of keeping his married life private, Roki Sasaki – the pitching phenomenon of the Los Angeles Dodgers – has officially revealed his wife’s identity. In a special post on his personal Instagram this morning, Sasaki shared his wife’s image and name on social media for the first time, causing a stir among MLB and Japanese fans.
The post, accompanied by a series of romantic and sweet photos, quickly garnered millions of interactions in just a few hours. “Today, I want to introduce everyone to the most important woman in my life. This is my wife – Minami Sakuma. Thank you for always being by my side throughout this journey,” Sasaki wrote in both Japanese and English.
This is the first time Roki Sasaki (24 years old) has publicly shared a picture of his wife since announcing his marriage in February 2025. Previously, he only referred to his wife as “an ordinary woman” and resolutely protected her privacy. This public announcement is seen as a major turning point, showing that Sasaki is ready to share his personal life with fans.
In the photos posted, Minami Sakuma appears radiant with a warm smile, long hair, and an elegant style. The couple took sweet photos at a California beach at sunset, in their yard, and one picture shows Sasaki gently kissing his wife’s forehead. Their images together exude happiness and closeness.
Minami Sakuma (佐久間みなみ), 25 years old, is a nutritionist and health lifestyle specialist. She is known in her small community in Japan for her ability to prepare perfectly nutritious bento boxes for athletes. Many sources indicate that the two knew each other before Sasaki transitioned to MLB. Minami is highly regarded for her calm, intelligent personality and for being a strong emotional support for her husband during the stressful transition from NPB to Major League Soccer.
A family member revealed: “Minami is a woman of few words but extremely thoughtful. She has been by Roki’s side through the most difficult days as he adapted to a new environment, a different time zone, and the immense pressure at the Dodgers.”
Roki Sasaki experienced a great tragedy when he lost his father and grandparents in the 2011 Tohoku tsunami. Finding a life partner who understands and supports him is considered a crucial source of motivation that helped Sasaki overcome injuries and psychological pressure in his career.
After signing a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers, Sasaki had an impressive debut. Despite the ups and downs of the 2026 season, he is still expected to become a true ace for the Los Angeles team in the near future.
Following the post, many MLB stars sent their congratulations. Shohei Ohtani – a fellow countryman and senior player – commented: “Congratulations to you and Minami! Family is the greatest strength ❤️.” Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and many other teammates quickly liked and commented to show their support.
Japanese fans were overflowing with emotion on social media. Many comments were like: “Finally get to see his sister-in-law!”, “Roki has grown up!”, “The most beautiful couple in NPB – MLB.” Meanwhile, Dodgers fans in the US also expressed their excitement at learning more about “The Japanese Monster’s” personal life.
Dave Roberts, head coach of the Dodgers, shared at the press conference: “Roki is a great guy. We’re happy that he’s happy. A strong family will help Roki play even better.”
Sasaki’s choice of this time to publicly reveal his wife shows that he is becoming increasingly confident and wants to balance his career and personal life. Many experts believe this is a positive sign, helping Sasaki reduce psychological pressure and focus more on the remainder of the 2026 season.
With his innate talent, ball speed reaching over 100 mph, and increasingly strong mentality, Roki Sasaki is not only an outstanding athlete but also a role model of a responsible and loving husband.
The story of Roki Sasaki and Minami Sakuma once again proves that behind brilliant successes on the field, there are always quiet and beautiful love stories.
