Dodgers News: Sasaki Passes First Test in New Role

PHOENIX, AZ—When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed international free agent Roki Sasaki this offseason, it was a move that “broke” baseball.

Not only did the Dodgers win the World Series a few months prior, but they also “won” the offseason by going on a wild spending spree, bringing in other talent such as Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, and Michael Conforto, and re-signing key players like Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández. However, perhaps the biggest bargain was Sasaki.

Sasaki, the 23-year-old fireball right-hander who opened scouts’ eyes during his brief appearance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic with team Japan, was arguably the most sought-after international free agent since two-way star Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers got him for the cheap price of $6.5 million of their international bonus pool money.

However, it was a rocky start for the young right-hander who was making the grand transition from the NPB to Major League Baseball.

Overall, in his first two months of the season, Sasaki showed flashes of his old self but was mediocre through eight starts before landing on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder injury.

After a whole summer of recovery and mechanical adjustments, Sasaki has returned to the Dodgers, this time in a new role that he has never had before: appearing in the bullpen.

It’s no secret that the Dodgers’ bullpen has struggled massively throughout the season, particularly this month, and with their right-handers.

The Dodgers are in a desperate spot, turning to Sasaki in hopes that what he found in his last three appearances in Triple-A is the turning point of his rookie season, and can help the team in the bullpen.

Yesterday was the first test of that experiment, and Sasaki passed it with flying colors, tossing a dominant 1-2-3 scoreless inning showcasing that elite velocity, command, and splitter.

Activated from the injured list just before the game and making his first major league appearance since early May, due to a shoulder injury, Sasaki showed promising signs with a scoreless seventh inning. He protected a 3-1 lead, which was established by Blake Snell’s six-inning, one-run performance and an early offensive surge, including a two-run homer from Andy Pages.

Sasaki’s fastball averaged 98-99 mph, spot-on in the strike zone corners, and even caused a few crucial swing-and-misses—something he didn’t do consistently during his 4.72 ERA in eight starts at the start of his highly anticipated rookie season.

Sasaki required only thirteen pitches to retire the side in order, finishing his inning with two strikeouts on 99-mph four-seam fastballs. As he returned to the dugout, he gave his teammates a stoic glare. Almost all of them, including Shohei Ohtani, responded with applause.

“I just think there’s a lot more confidence, a lot more conviction and obviously the stuff is up where it was earlier this year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame. “He’s learned a lot from this season, some of the struggles, not being able to participate, being in Triple-A, the rehab assignment and coming back. He just wants to help. I’m really, really proud of his growth and what he’s done.”

“The two biggest factors,” Sasaki said of his velocity, through interpreter Will Ireton, “is just knowing the fact that I’m healthy and that’s way past behind me. Mechanically, being able to finally find a place where I feel really confident with my mechanics.”

Sasaki will make one more appearance out of the Dodgers’ bullpen during the final series in Seattle against the Mariners. Afterward, the organization will better understand his role in October.

Suppose Sasaki can showcase anything close to what he has shown over the last month. In that case, there is no doubt he’ll be in the Dodgers’ bullpen in the postseason, in what could be a potential dynamic game-changer for the team as they try to navigate their pitching staff to another World Series title.

Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!