Dodgers News: Roki Sasaki Held Out of 2026 WBC at Dodgers’ Decision
Dodgers’ decision reflects careful balance between opportunity and risk for top prospect.
LOS ANGELES, CA—With the 2026 season just around the corner as pitchers and catchers are set to report to their respective camps in under two weeks, so too is the start of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which is set to kick off in March.
The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are set to be well represented in the international tournament, including two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and catcher Will Smith, but one name that won’t be joining the dance is young Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki.
Sasaki, 24, was initially listed on Team Japan’s preliminary roster but later dropped out due to what was then reported as health concerns.
However, on Saturday at DodgerFest, Sasaki, in an interview with David Vassegh of Dodger Talk, stated that it was not his decision to opt out and that the team had made it for him.
“I didn’t have a conversation, per se, with the team,” Sasaki said through his interpreter at DodgerFest. “It was really up to the team. You know, it was really the team that decided. But for me, my mentality is it’s going to be a lot of competition to earn the spot in the rotation, so that’s my mindset going into Spring Training.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team would support players who want to participate in the WBC, but the final decision would be made by the front office.
The decision from the Dodgers brass does hold merit, as the right-hander was limited to 36.1 innings during his rookie season after suffering a right shoulder injury, then returned at the end of the season in the bullpen.
Due to limited exposure and inconsistent performance, Sasaki finished with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts, but has maintained his goal for the upcoming season to return to the starting rotation and has even begun working on a third pitch: the cutter.
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