LOS ANGELES – Roki Sasaki’s initial days with the Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t been as smooth as anticipated. The talented pitcher, celebrated for his outstanding performance throughout his baseball journey, finds himself facing unexpected hurdles.
During Sasaki’s debut at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night, the promising right-hander struggled with control, causing his outing to be cut short in the second inning. He issued four walks and managed only five outs, throwing 61 pitches to just 12 batters before manager Dave Roberts made the decision to pull him from the game.
The week prior, Sasaki made his major league debut facing the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, where he also demonstrated control issues, walking five batters in three innings and managing to throw only 25 strikes out of 56 pitches. In his Los Angeles appearance, Sasaki conceded two runs and three singles, throwing 32 strikes and consistently falling behind the Tigers in the early counts.
While the pitcher himself did not attribute his performance to nerves, both his manager and catcher acknowledged that nerves likely played a role. Sasaki expressed through his interpreter, Will Ireton, that he felt comfortable in the game but believed his pitching wasn’t up to his standards that day.
Despite this rocky start, there’s no cause for significant concern for the Dodgers about Sasaki. Touted as one of Japan’s most promising young pitchers, the 23-year-old is still finding his rhythm in Los Angeles.
A key aspect of Sasaki’s game needing attention is his command. A pitcher usually known for targeting the strike zone, Sasaki is also seeking consistency with his splitter, renowned for being nearly impossible to hit when executed perfectly.
Catcher Will Smith expressed the team’s confidence in Sasaki, emphasizing his skill and potential. Smith noted Sasaki’s experience on significant stages and expected him to bounce back strong after refining his performance in practice.
A boisterous crowd of 51,788 welcomed Sasaki at Chavez Ravine, but the young pitcher faced difficulty settling into his 41-pitch first inning. The Tigers capitalized with five baserunners and scored twice, highlighted by an unexpected RBI single by Manuel Margot and a challenging 10-pitch bases-loaded walk by Trey Sweeney.
“Dodger Stadium can be daunting,” remarked Smith, noting the heightened atmosphere and expressing confidence that Sasaki will adapt and ultimately thrive under such pressures.
In the second inning, after two additional walks by Sasaki, Roberts intervened to prevent further trouble. Roberts recognized the learning curve Sasaki is encountering, noting that struggles are part of a pitcher’s growth and that Sasaki has known mostly success thus far.
There were glimpses of potential during Sasaki’s outing. He threw a blistering 97 mph fastball past Riley Greene, marking one of his two strikeouts, while the Tigers’ harder hits were limited.
Sasaki’s aspiration to compete in Major League Baseball, especially with the defending World Series champions, hasn’t immediately met expectations. However, the Dodgers have always acknowledged that Sasaki’s maturation as a player is an ongoing process.
“I don’t expect immediate solutions,” Sasaki admitted, “but as part of the major leagues, I aim to deliver quality performances weekly. It’s an aspect of my game I’ll continually work on.”
Following Sasaki’s exit, Jack Dreyer stepped in to conclude the inning smoothly, assisting Los Angeles in securing a 7-3 victory. The Dodgers remain undefeated this season, showcasing the team’s depth even amidst individual struggles.
Sasaki is slated to pitch again next weekend against Philadelphia. The Dodgers’ April schedule includes enough rest days to ensure Sasaki can address his current challenges comfortably.
While Shohei Ohtani’s entry into the rotation remains unscheduled, he engaged in a bullpen session on Saturday. Ohtani is preparing for a potential May return, after which the Dodgers anticipate shifting to a six-man rotation.