The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a relaxing spring by all accounts, but there is one variable that is proving to be quite confounding — Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a relaxing spring by all accounts, but there is one variable that is proving to be quite confounding — Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki.
The second-year pitcher had one of the wildest rookie years in recent memory.
He was an unpredictable starter in the early part of the season that struggled to maintain his velocity and stuff over the course of an outing, but in the World Series, he was a lights-out closer.
In between, he missed time on the injured list with shoulder discomfort, which always raises concerns, and he spent time in Triple-A working on his mechanics.
Due to Los Angeles’ bullpen issues, he was forced into a reliever role, and he thrived — closing out multiple games and producing multiple stress-free outings.
One World Series title in his back pocket and a full offseason preparing for major leaguers, Sasaki came into the 2026 season with the expectation of being a starter, his goal since coming over to the States.
However, despite promising reports from spring training early on, Sasaki has had two bad starts, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing 5 hits, 7 runs (including a homer), 5 walks, and 5 punch-outs.
His ERA is 18.90, and although it is a small sample size, Dodgers fans are becoming quite concerned that Sasaki won’t cut it as a starter or that there is something seriously wrong.
While something underlying may be causing these struggles, here are three reasons fans should be optimistic about Sasaki’s future.
His Issues Aren’t Mental
While Sasaki can look somewhat timid on the mound at times, and his face tends to show regular concern when things are not going well, the righty is still confident and undeterred when speaking to the media.
“There are still bad habits that I picked up from when my delivery has broken down over these last two years,” he said after his more recent start against the Guardians.
“Skill alone won’t fix that. I think you have to train to make it part of yourself. I think that if I pile up practices and games, it’ll come more naturally and I’ll be able to throw without thinking. I have to be patient until I reach that point.”
Some Under-the-hood Improvements
Notably, Sasaki has moved away from the slider he used during the 2025 regular season; instead, he is working on a harder pitch — a mysterious cutter.
His fastball consistently reaches 98 mph, unlike last season, when he would widely vary in his velocity. He is reaching a high velocity more regularly, and the ball looks like it is coming out a bit more consistently, with less variation.
With a third pitch and a fastball at a good speed, there is a good baseline for him to build on.
A top starter ideally has at least four pitches, meaning he needs to develop an additional pitch to reach that level. Although his fastball regularly reached 100 mph during his time in Japan, he needs to demonstrate he can regain those velocities to fulfill his potential.
At the very least, he should have a good amount of spin on his fastball.
His mechanics still need work and consistency needs to improve, but there has been good development since his rookie year.
Organizational Support
Undeniably, the Dodgers have been in clear support of Sasaki. They are still going to give him an Opening Day rotation spot, along with every chance to prove that he is a starter, even during such an important season.
Pitching coach Mark Prior believes in the pitcher, and he thinks that with a full season of work as a starter, Sasaki will grow.
“We never got to see the healthy version of Roki as a starter,” Prior said. “That’s intriguing, I think, for everybody. At the end [of the season] we got a taste of a healthy Roki.
“This year I think we’re going to see the full version of Roki and then we actually get to see him grow and mature as a starting pitcher in the major leagues.”
Prior is not the only figure on the Dodgers to voice his support for Sasaki — manager Dave Roberts has not wavered.
“I think it can change, but I don’t think it’s going to change before we break (camp),” Roberts said. “We see him as a starter and (we are) giving him every opportunity for success.
A combination of his progress, the team’s belief, and his mental resilience should inspire some hope. A full 2026 season should only help, especially if he stacks up strong starts.
Category: General Sports
