Japan pitching phenom Roki Sasaki showed amazing sportsmanship after hitting player with 101 mph pitch

There’s sportsmanship and then there’s THIS.

In a few years, baseball fans everywhere are going to know the name Roki Sasaki. The 21-year-old pitching phenom from Japan wowed the baseball world last season when he nearly threw two consecutive perfect games in Japan’s NPB.

It turns out that his sportsmanship is also worth the big-league hype.

During Japan’s Pool B game against the Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic, Sasaki hit the Czech Republic’s William Escala around the knee with a 101 mph fastball. Escala was understandably in some pain, but he remained in the game. That’s when we saw some amazing sportsmanship from Sasaki. On the field, Sasaki removed his cap and gestured to Escala to apologize.

And after the game, Sasaki made an effort to meet up with Escala and offer an extended apology, which included two giant gift bags.

While Sasaki has a bright big-league career ahead of him, the Czech team was comprised of mostly amateurs who work day jobs in the Czech Republic. They were huge underdogs in the World Baseball Classic, and Japan obviously didn’t want to see any of them get hurt. Sasaki knew that, and Escala (one of the few Czech players with even college baseball experience) clearly appreciated the gesture.

Fans also loved seeing that respect between the two teams.