Roki Sasaki’s Anticipated Spring Training Debut
GLENDALE, Ariz. — It’s not every day that a sellout crowd gathers to watch a pitcher who isn’t even in the starting lineup. But that’s precisely what happened on Tuesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch. The world was eagerly awaiting the spring training debut of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers this winter. After a simulated game the previous week, Sasaki finally took the mound under the bright lights, and both the fans and the media were abuzz with anticipation.
A Smooth Start with Velocity to Spare
From the moment Sasaki’s feet hit the mound, it was clear he was fired up. His first pitch, clocked at 99.2 mph, induced a groundout from Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte. This was particularly significant given the velocity dips Sasaki experienced last season in Japan. The 23-year-old right-hander’s 25 fastballs in his first outing averaged 98 mph, a clear indication that he has not lost his velocity. “Combination of both [adrenaline and mechanics],” Sasaki explained postgame. He attributed his performance to the hard work he put in during the off-season, fine-tuning his mechanics and focusing on his strengths and weaknesses in the lab.
Overcoming Initial Hurdles
The first inning wasn’t entirely smooth for Sasaki. He allowed a base hit and hit a batter, and a few fastballs strayed out of the zone. However, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had hoped, Sasaki was able to regain his composure in these moments. “I was a mixture of excitement and nervousness,” Sasaki admitted after his debut. “But once I was on the mound, I was able to focus and able to pitch.” His ability to manage his emotions and maintain focus under pressure was a promising sign for his future in the major leagues.
Showcasing Electric Stuff
After a shaky start, Sasaki began to display the electric stuff that has made baseball enthusiasts salivate since he was a teenager. In the fifth inning, he froze both TJ Friedl and Matt McLain on two-strike splitters to escape a jam. But his best inning was the seventh, where he twirled an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 frame, capping it off with a strikeout of Carlos Jorge. Sasaki finished his introductory performance with three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, a walk, a hit by pitch, and recording five strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 4-2 win. His signature splitter, which generated seven swings-and-misses, was particularly impressive.
A Boost in Confidence
Sasaki’s debut was not just a performance but a confidence booster. “I think more than anything, it’s just good for his confidence,” Roberts said. “I appreciate the fact that you can start that pitch in the strike zone, get swing-and-miss, and have them honor that fastball, which they did.” While there were some early misfires, Sasaki’s ability to compose himself and execute his pitches effectively was a testament to his potential. The sold-out crowd that witnessed his debut was a testament to the excitement surrounding the Japanese right-hander.
A Careful Approach Moving Forward
All indications are that Sasaki, MLB’s No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, will appear in the Dodgers’ two-game series in his home country of Japan against the Chicago Cubs. However, it’s still undetermined if he will start the second game of the series. The Dodgers are taking a cautious approach with their young right-hander, planning to keep him on a weekly pitching schedule similar to his routine in Japan. This cautious ramp-up aligns with the team’s approach to other starting pitchers returning from injuries, such as Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, and superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to return to the mound in May. While the excitement of Sasaki’s first appearance in Dodger blue is palpable, the team remains mindful that he is still a work in progress. “That’s the best we’ve seen him [this spring],” Roberts said, “And you would expect that given he’s now really in compete mode. The adrenaline is real. And so we haven’t seen 99 mph all spring, so we saw 99 and certainly a lot of swing-and-misses.”
