The Los Angeles Dodgers received a promising update during their recent series against the Colorado Rockies: Roki Sasaki delivered his most encouraging rehab outing to date. While the 23-year-old right-hander from Japan isn’t guaranteed to return to the majors immediately, his performance has reignited hope for a potential late-season contribution and added intrigue to the tight National League West race.
Sasaki struck out eight batters over 4.2 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing three runs on three hits with four walks. His fastball averaged 98.6 mph and touched 100 mph six times, up from his previous outings, while his splitter generated 16 whiffs—a season high across his MLB and MiLB appearances.
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“That’s great. That’s a good thing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the outing. “That’s a good thing for the Dodgers and for Roki. We’ll have some conversations after this one, but that’s good to hear.”
Sasaki’s command was near-perfect through the first four innings, retiring 12 of the first 15 batters he faced. The fifth inning, however, saw his control falter slightly, with two walks, a single, a double, and a hit batter. Despite that, his overall stuff was clearly back to form, raising questions about when—or how—the Dodgers might use him at the Major League level.
With just days remaining in his 30-day rehab window, the Dodgers face a decision: activate Sasaki now or allow him more time in the minors. Rotation opportunities are limited, as the Dodgers’ six-man rotation—comprised of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw, and Emmet Sheehan—has been performing well. That makes a bullpen role the most likely avenue for Sasaki’s return.
“Anything’s possible,” Roberts said when asked about the potential for Sasaki to pitch out of the bullpen. “I know Roki is anxious to get back here. I know he wants to contribute. Like I said last week, guys are pitching well as far as starters. So we just have to see where he fits in, and we’ll have that conversation as an organization.”
Sasaki’s velocity and strikeout ability make him a potentially impactful option in high-leverage situations. His triple-digit fastball and elite splitter could allow him to serve as a multi-inning reliever or even a late-inning weapon if the Dodgers’ bullpen needs reinforcement. With several key arms—Tony Gonsolin, River Ryan, Gavin Stone, Michael Grove, Brusdar Graterol, and Evan Phillips—already sidelined, Sasaki’s timely return could provide crucial depth during a playoff push.
The Dodgers will monitor his progress closely in the coming days, balancing the urgency of September pennant races with the need to ensure Sasaki’s health. For now, his latest rehab start serves as a reminder of the upside he brings and why the team invested in him as one of their most intriguing offseason acquisitions.