Roki Sasaki deciding to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers was viewed as another splash during an impressive offseason, but lofty expectations gave way to right-hander struggling in his rookie season.
Sasaki endured inconsistent fastball velocity and results through eight starts before going on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. His recovery included a setback and at one point Sasaki pitching again in 2025 appeared to be in question.
He eventually began to make steady progress and began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 14. Then just as Sasaki reached the end of the permitted 30-day period for a pitcher on rehab, he suffered a minor calf injury that reset the clock.
Sasaki resumed his rehab assignment on Sept. 18, but with a notable change as he pitched out of the bullpen. He threw a scoreless inning and repeated that in a second relief appearance on Sunday.
The 23-year-old allowed just one baserunner and collected three strikeouts over the two games out of the bullpen. Included in that has been an increase in fastball velocity, which Sasaki has seemingly been chasing since making the decision to start his MLB career.
What’s next for Roki Sasaki?
With the Comets finishing their season, Sasaki is now scheduled to meet the Dodgers as they begin their final road trip of the regular season. The plan is for Dodgers front office members and the coaching staff to meet with Sasaki in order to discuss possibly activating him off the injured list.
“He’s done what he needs to do to get an opportunity,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Given the health and collective performance by the Dodgers’ starting rotation, any chance Sasaki would potentially receive this year, particularly in the postseason, figured to come out of the bullpen. He expressed a willingness to pitch as a reliever during the summer and again in a recent conversation with the front office.
However, there still is some uncertainty over the viability of Sasaki taking on such a change.
“It’s something he’s never done before,” Roberts noted. “If it goes well, he’ll get an opportunity this coming week. … The most important thing is he’s open to it and willing to do whatever it takes to be on our postseason roster, which speaks to his character and being a great teammate.
“That’s something for me that’s most important. Now getting himself an opportunity on the field, the two days off, and once you get into some type of cadence, it’s still pitching and it’s still baseball. I feel he can do it, but it’s up to him to go out there and perform.”
What Roberts is sure of Sasaki’s ability to make an impact if he can maintain control.
“If he can find the strike zone, there is no limit to what he can provide,” Roberts said.
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