After months of cautious buildup and careful mechanical tweaks, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie starting pitcher Roki Sasaki is finally nearing a return to the mound. The highly touted rookie right-hander threw a pain-free bullpen session on Tuesday at Dodgers Stadium and is slated to pitch three simulated innings Friday—his most significant test yet in a rehab process that’s been equal parts physical and developmental.
“I feel better about being able to throw harder, especially because I’m completely pain-free,” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton. “With that being said, I do have to face live hitters and see how my mechanics hold. Just being consistent—being able to do that consistently.”
Sasaki has been sidelined since mid-May with a shoulder impingement and was moved to the 60-day injured list in June. But over the past few weeks, he’s begun to show encouraging signs. His fastball touched 96 mph in Tuesday’s session, and both he and the team say his shoulder has responded well to the gradual ramp-up.
For Sasaki, it’s about more than just being healthy. It’s about adapting—something he admits has been a challenge during his first season in Major League Baseball.
Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki Reveals Difficulty Transitioning To American Hitters
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“American hitters have different approaches at the plate compared to Japanese hitters,” Sasaki said. “So now I can’t really attack the same way that I used to in Japan. They have different strengths and weaknesses. [I’m trying] to have more variety in the way I attack the hitters.”
To that end, Sasaki has added a two-seam fastball to a mix that already included a four-seamer, slider, and his signature splitter. The goal is to give hitters a different look—something with movement and the potential to generate ground balls early in counts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sees the adjustment as a positive step forward.
“To have two separate fastballs, one that potentially could miss a bat, one that could put a ball on the ground—those are two good weapons,” Roberts said. “I’m expecting to see pounding of the strike zone, conviction behind the throws, and just a better performer. Just learning from the first month of this season.”
That first month with the Dodgers was rocky. In his eight starts before going on the injured list, Sasaki posted a 4.72 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. He allowed 29 hits and 22 walks in just 34.1 innings and completed six innings only once. For a pitcher who threw a perfect game and struck out 13 consecutive batters in Japan’s NPB in 2022, the transition to MLB has been far from seamless.
“I think I just needed more seasoning,” Sasaki admitted. “Now I have a better understanding of where the pain came from and how to make sure it doesn’t come back. The mechanics aren’t 100 percent right now, but I think they’re moving in the right direction.”
The Dodgers signed Sasaki to a minor league deal in January, betting on his long-term upside as one of the most electric young pitchers to come out of Japan in recent years. And while the early results have been mixed, there’s still confidence—both from the team and the pitcher—that he can become a key contributor down the stretch.
Exactly where Sasaki fits in remains an open question. With Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow now healthy, and Shohei Ohtani stretched out to four innings, the Dodgers have six active starters—including Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Emmet Sheehan. Sasaki will need to prove he deserves a spot.
“My every intention is to get back on a major league mound and pitch again,” he said. “With that being said, I do need to fight for the opportunity. I don’t think that I’ll just be given the opportunity right away. So this month is going to be important for me, since I’ll be facing hitters throughout.”
Roberts made it clear the team still views Sasaki as a starting pitcher, though he didn’t rule out a bullpen role—particularly when it comes to postseason planning.
“We’re going to take the 13 best pitchers,” Roberts said. “If Roki is a part of that in some capacity, then that would be great. And if he’s not, then he won’t be.”
First, Sasaki must get through Friday’s sim game. Then comes a potential rehab assignment, likely in the minors, where the club will look to build him up to five or six innings. If everything tracks as expected, a late August or early September return is on the table.
Until then, Sasaki remains focused on refining his delivery, maintaining health, and proving he can handle major league hitters—not just with talent, but with adaptability and command.
“Right now, I’m just working on the mechanical part of the game,” Sasaki said. “I feel pretty good.”