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Roki Sasaki begins bullpen work as he eyes a late August return, hoping to bounce back from a rocky start to his Dodgers debut season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers gambled big on Roki Sasaki. And so far, the return has been more questions than strikeouts.
After a celebrated arrival from Japan’s NPB, Sasaki’s MLB debut was meant to solidify the rotation depth that collapsed during last year’s World Series run. Instead, it’s been a frustrating introduction. The 23-year-old righty has been sidelined since May with a shoulder impingement—one that derailed his momentum after just eight shaky starts in a Dodgers uniform.
But now, there’s finally movement.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed to reporters that Sasaki has resumed throwing bullpen sessions and is pain-free. While Roberts hinted at a late-August return, the Dodgers are expected to handle his rehab with extreme caution. Given the team’s battered pitching depth chart and Sasaki’s long-term importance, there’s no need to rush.
Command Issues and MLB Transition Have Slowed Sasaki’s Start
That said, Sasaki’s first MLB stretch left plenty of room for concern.
Over 34.1 innings, he posted a 4.72 ERA with just 24 strikeouts and 22 walks. His ERA+ of 86 was well below league average, and the command issues were glaring—his 14.3% walk rate ranked second-worst in baseball among pitchers with at least 150 batters faced. His 15.6% strikeout rate was equally underwhelming for someone once called “the Japanese Stephen Strasburg.“
Velocity hasn’t been the issue. Sasaki’s four-seamer averaged 96 mph—ranking in the 77th percentile—but batters hit .253 against it with just a 10.1% whiff rate. The fastball’s effectiveness didn’t translate, essentially because hitters didn’t have to chase. His command wasn’t there.
The one bright spot has been his signature splitter, a pitch that followed him from Japan with sky-high expectations. Opponents are hitting just .158 against it with a 35% whiff rate—his best weapon. But he hasn’t been able to throw it consistently in leverage situations due to poor fastball setup and limited sequencing comfort.
Dodgers Still See Sasaki as a Long-Term Piece
There’s also the pressure.
In four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki posted a 2.10 ERA with 505 strikeouts and only 88 walks. His move to MLB was hyped to historic proportions, and adjusting to a new culture, different mound, tighter ball, and heavier lineup depth is no small task, especially with a $400 million team and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani watching from the dugout.
The Dodgers have already used 16 starting pitchers this season—more than any team in the league. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have battled shoulder issues. Gavin Stone, Kyle Hurt, and River Ryan are out for the year. Even Ohtani is still building up post-surgery.
Sasaki doesn’t need to save the Dodgers’ season. But if he can return in late August and show flashes of the upside that made him an international sensation, that might be enough to change the tone of a rocky rookie campaign.
For now, he’s just trying to get back on the mound. The next few weeks will determine whether this is a temporary setback or the start of a longer journey toward becoming the ace the Dodgers thought they were getting.
Alvin Garcia Alvin Garcia is a Puerto Rican sports writer for Heavy.com. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, with coverage spanning across all leagues. More about Alvin Garcia
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