The story of Roki Sasaki’s first MLB season with the Los Angeles Dodgers is a wild ride of sky-high hopes, early stumbles, injury headaches, and, somehow, playoff brilliance. Sasaki came over from Nippon Professional Baseball as a supposed generational talent, but his first months in the majors were anything but easy.
By year’s end, though, he’d found a new groove and wound up making a real impact for the Dodgers. How did a 23-year-old Japanese pitching phenom go from rookie question mark to postseason closer in just one season? Let’s unravel it.
From Japan’s Ace to MLB Rookie
Sasaki landed in LA with a pretty jaw-dropping resume: a 2.10 ERA over four years with Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines, 505 strikeouts, only 88 walks, and a reputation that had scouts from 20 MLB teams buzzing. His fastball and pinpoint control turned him into a star overseas, so Dodgers fans couldn’t help but expect something special when he signed on during the offseason.
High Expectations Meet Reality
But things got bumpy, fast. In his first eight MLB starts, Sasaki struggled with his command and ended up with a 4.72 ERA. Even his fastball dipped—down to an average of 96.1 mph, which was a noticeable drop from his Japan days.
Frustration built up, and then came the worst: a shoulder impingement landed him on the injured list for over four months. Suddenly, there were real questions about whether he could handle the grind of MLB.
The Rehab Road and Velocity Concerns
August brought a bit of hope as Sasaki started a Triple-A rehab stint. Still, worries lingered—his velocity bounced around, and his command wasn’t exactly sharp.
Pitching coaches started to wonder if the injury had messed with his mechanics more than anyone thought. People around the team whispered about possible long-term issues. Not exactly the comeback story fans wanted.
Sudden Turnaround
Then, out of nowhere, September flipped the script. Sasaki cranked his fastball up by more than 4 mph between rehab starts, and you could feel the energy shift in the clubhouse.
The Dodgers’ rotation was finally settling in, so management started thinking about a different path for their young pitcher.
From Starter to Bullpen Weapon
Instead of rushing Sasaki back into the rotation, the Dodgers decided to use him as a late-season bullpen weapon. The move would protect his shoulder and let him go full throttle in short outings.
He’d only made four relief appearances in Triple-A and the majors before, but suddenly he was staring down the biggest moments in baseball.
Postseason Heroics
Thrown into the fire, Sasaki came through in a huge way. He closed out the Wild Card series against the Cincinnati Reds, locking down the win and sending the Dodgers forward.
In the NLDS against the Phillies, he picked up two clutch saves, showing a calmness you just don’t see in most rookies. His fastball was back to blazing, and his control left hitters shaking their heads.
Lessons from Sasaki’s Rookie Season
Dodgers director of pitching Rob Hill put it bluntly: Sasaki’s season “proved that no player should ever be written off, no matter the circumstances.”
- Adaptability is key — Sasaki’s move from starter to reliever made all the difference.
- Patience pays off — Coming back from injury takes time, but sticking with it can pay off.
- Poise under pressure — Delivering in big playoff spots wins trust, fast.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, Sasaki’s role with the Dodgers is still up in the air. His success as a reliever gives the team a lot to think about for next season.
Will he end up back in the rotation? Or maybe he’ll lock down the closer spot and become the guy they count on in big games.
Either way, he could end up right at the heart of Los Angeles’s push for another championship.
Roki Sasaki went from a hyped-up Japanese ace to a rookie relief sensation in just one season. Watching him adjust and thrive—honestly, it was kind of inspiring.
Fans got a real reminder that baseball’s best stories don’t always follow the script. Sometimes, the wildest twists make for the most memorable moments.
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers’ Director of Pitching Sends Message to Those Who Doubted Roki Sasaki
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