After more than two months on the shelf, it appears that Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki is inching closer to a return. The 23-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since May 9 due to a shoulder issue, and while the team has exercised caution during his rehab process, recent developments suggest progress is being made—and with it, a renewed sense of optimism.
Building Back Stronger
Sasaki, in his first season pitching outside of Japan, has faced a steep learning curve compounded by injury. However, the Dodgers see the downtime as having a silver lining. Speaking to The Orange County Register, manager Dave Roberts offered a notably upbeat evaluation of the young pitcher’s recent bullpen session.
“This is the time for him to figure things out, as he’s building up,” Roberts said. “From what I’ve heard from the pitching guys, the delivery is much more consistent. I think that lends itself to the strength that he has now. He’s gotten a lot stronger.”
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According to Roberts, Sasaki threw 39 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday morning and is slated for another session over the weekend. After that, the next step will be facing live hitters at the team’s minor league facility.
While there remains no firm timetable for his big league return, the organization expects Sasaki to eventually rejoin a rotation that has recently welcomed back Tyler Glasnow and soon hopes to see Blake Snell return to action as well.
Untapped Potential Still Ahead
Sasaki was one of the marquee acquisitions of the Dodgers’ ambitious 2024-25 offseason, a rare instance of a reigning World Series champion aggressively improving its roster. He made his debut in the second game of the season but managed only eight starts before being sidelined. In that brief stretch, he posted a 1-1 record with a 4.72 ERA.
Despite modest surface numbers, the Dodgers remain bullish on Sasaki’s long-term upside. Roberts emphasized that the best is yet to come.
“It’s exciting. [Sasaki is] obviously very talented,” Roberts said. “I think we haven’t come close to seeing what’s in there, even for this season.”
The sentiment reflects a broader theme for the Dodgers this year: injuries have forced them to adapt and recalibrate, but with reinforcements like Sasaki and Snell on the way, there’s hope the second half of the season will bring greater stability—and possibly dominance.
Bigger Picture and Trade Deadline Implications
Los Angeles currently holds a 60-43 record, which, while impressive, feels slightly underwhelming given the franchise’s historic expectations and high-profile offseason. The rash of injuries to their rotation—particularly to arms like Sasaki, Snell, and Glasnow—has led to speculation that the Dodgers may be more active at the July 31 trade deadline than originally anticipated.
That said, getting Sasaki back with cleaner mechanics and improved strength could function like a midseason addition of its own. As Dodger Blue’s Matthew Moreno reported, Roberts believes Sasaki’s time away has been productive in refining his mechanics and building durability.
Now, as the Dodgers prepare to take on the Boston Red Sox in a weekend series at Fenway Park—a rematch of their 2018 World Series clash—they do so knowing that one of their most intriguing weapons may not be too far behind.
Looking Ahead
Sasaki’s return won’t fix everything, but it could be a key turning point in a season that’s been more turbulent than anticipated. As Roberts noted, “To get more guys back online, to backfill, to kind of be to the forefront, any way you want to see it, I think is really exciting.”
The Dodgers—and their fans—are ready to see what Sasaki can bring to the second half of 2025.