Cody Snavely
Other than the report day of the Los Angeles Dodgers roster in mid-February, yesterday, Tuesday, March 4th, was likely the most anticipated day of Cactus League play as 23-year-old Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki made his debut.
Coming into camp in Glendale, Arizona, the Dodgers, a team fresh off a World Series victory and the short offseason to recover from that marathon of a season, have slowed the play of many of their players, both position players and pitchers.
Sasaki, who pitched his final season in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines, battled his own demons with the injury bug, throwing 111.0 innings overall to a 2.34 ERA, but saw noticeable dips in velocity and command.
Despite Sasaki’s low price tag due to his classification as an international amateur free agent, the signing still brought significant risks to the Dodgers, a team in a World Series or bust window.
Last Tuesday, Sasaki faced an opposing team’s hitters in the backfields at Camelback Ranch, where the righty fired off three innings against a slew of Chicago White Sox minor leaguers.
Overall, Sasaki threw thirty-eight pitches, allowing two hits: a solo home run to top White Sox prospect Kyle Teel and a double. However, Sasaki rebounded well, collecting one strikeout on his signature 80-grade splitter and a few weak ground balls. Per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the righty sat in the mid-90s with his velocity, exactly where they believed he’d be at the point.
Up next was his Cactus League debut, and boy, did he not disappoint. Sasaki entered the game in relief after 2025 Opening Day starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished his four-inning outing.
Overall, Sasaki tossed three scoreless innings, collecting five strikeouts, walking one batter, and generating eight whiffs on the day and posting a 37 CSW% and 47 Whiff% while maxing out at 99mph.
“It was a mixture of excitement and nervousness,” Sasaki said of game action for the first time. “But once I was on the mound, I felt like I was able to focus and able to pitch.”
In the words of his new manager, it was the best the team had seen of Sasaki all spring. While the results in early March won’t count during the regular season, they’re encouraging regardless.
Prior to the start of yesterday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, right-handed relief pitcher Michael Kopech threw his first bullpen of spring training after coming into camp with forearm tightness, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports.
Kopech, 28, was an integral part of the Dodgers bullpen after being acquired in a three-team trade between the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers last July.
Upon joining Los Angeles, Kopech stepped up massively, pitching to a 1.13 ERA in twenty-four innings, collecting twenty-nine strikeouts and a .167 BABIP.
Kopech is not alone in his delayed spring training, as it was reported by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register last month that versatile relief pitcher Evan Phillips was also nursing a strained rotator cuff.
While Kopech continues his journey to the mound for the upcoming season, the same cannot be said for young right-handed flamethrower Edgardo Henriquez, who is set to miss the next four to six weeks with a metatarsal injury.
Dave Roberts stated that the injury occurred off the field but did not share any further details on the injury or Henriquez. Either way, the talented righty will not be ready come Opening Day.
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