Anthony Arroyo
Dodgers’ Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki threw his first live at-bats today, marking another step in his transition to Major League Baseball.
According to MLB.com, Sasaki is the No. 1 prospect in baseball and is expected to significantly impact the Dodgers’ rotation ahead of the 2025 season.
Sasaki is expected to be a key contributor to a deep Dodgers rotation that includes Blake Snell, Yoshi Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Dustin May.
After facing live batters, Sasaki reflected on his performance. Sasaki noted that his velocity had improved and that facing live hitters helped him sharpen his command, even though he still threw a fair number of balls. He felt his control was closer to where he intended it to be. Sasaki also spoke about the support he has received from Yamamoto and Ohtani.
“From the first day of camp, they’ve been really helpful in guiding me through all the things I don’t know. As games start, I’m sure there will be even more things I don’t know, so being able to talk to them to talk to will be really helpful.”
Roki’s early progression and comfort are encouraging signs for the Dodgers. After observing Sasaki’s initial bullpen session on Monday, manager Dave Roberts expressed his insights to the media.
“Each time he takes the mound, he’ll get more comfortable,” Roberts said. “The next checkpoint is facing hitters and then eventually pitching in a Cactus League game.”
With Cactus League games beginning as early as Friday, fans won’t have to wait long to see
Sasaki in action. While his debut date remains unconfirmed, anticipation grows as he prepares to showcase his electric stuff against MLB competition.
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