Dodgers Interview: Roki Sasaki Opens Up About Shoulder Injury, Recovery Plans, and Frustration with Recent Setback

In this interview with Japanese media, Roki Sasaki opens up about his recent shoulder injury that has landed him on the injured list. Sasaki shares his feelings about the injury, its similarity to a past issue, and his recovery plans moving forward. He also discusses how the injury has impacted his performance on the mound and his mindset as he works toward a full recovery. Read on for a closer look at Sasaki’s journey and how he plans to bounce back.

Interviewer: Emotionally, I think there are a lot of different feelings, but how do you feel about the current situation you’re in?

Roki Sasaki: Yes, of course, I’m frustrated. And with the team having many injuries, I also ended up getting injured, so I feel sorry for that.

Interviewer: Do you have a plan for when you would like to return, like a general timeline for your recovery?

Roki Sasaki: Well, as you can see from the image, I’m not sure what to say, but I can’t pinpoint the exact cause to fix it. So, I think first, I’ll need to figure out what the cause is. I think it depends on that.

Interviewer: Since coming to America, with all the changes in climate, medical care, and the short intervals between starts, how much has the new environment impacted you?

Roki Sasaki: I don’t think it has affected me much. It doesn’t matter if I’m in Japan or here. It was actually the same when I was in Japan. The pitching intervals, whether it’s 5 days, 6 days, or 10 days, if there’s a cause, it will happen, so I don’t think that matters much.

Interviewer: Are you considering surgery?

Roki Sasaki: I’m not really thinking about surgery. I’m just trying to manage it well. It’s not like there’s something seriously wrong, so I don’t think surgery is necessary. Surgery is typically for when there’s a serious issue, but that’s not the case here.

Interviewer: Just to confirm, did you have similar symptoms last season around May or June?

Roki Sasaki: Yes, that’s correct.

Interviewer: You mentioned you were frustrated. What did the manager or coaching staff say to you?

Roki Sasaki: They just told me to take care of it, get fully healthy, and do my best to recover and come back.

Interviewer: Is the pain present when you’re pitching, or does it occur during specific movements?

Roki Sasaki: Yes, it happens with certain movements.