The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff may soon have a new wrinkle to consider. Rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki took an important step forward in his recovery this week, delivering his sharpest rehab outing yet and putting himself back on the radar for a late-season role in Los Angeles.
Sasaki fanned eight hitters across 4.2 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City, sitting just under 99 mph with his fastball and flashing the devastating splitter that helped make him an international sensation. He reached triple digits six times and coaxed 16 swinging strikes, the kind of performance that manager Dave Roberts described as both encouraging and potentially consequential.
“Roki was fantastic,” Roberts said. “He’ll be a part of the conversation for us soon.”
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The Dodgers’ current rotation already runs six deep with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw, and Emmet Sheehan. That reality makes it unlikely Sasaki would be asked to shoulder a starting role down the stretch. Instead, the more intriguing path may be as a bullpen weapon, where his raw stuff could give the Dodgers the kind of late-season boost they need with several relievers still sidelined.
Roberts did not commit to a single plan but emphasized that all options remain open.
“What’s best for him, what’s best for us? You can argue both whether it’s getting ready for something to happen here in a starting role or something else, it should be on the table,” Roberts said.
“We’d have to see it here [in the big leagues], we still have time. We got to make a decision at some point in time.”
Timing the Call
Sasaki’s rehab stint has been uneven, but his most recent outing marked a clear step forward. He breezed through his first four innings before losing some command in the fifth, issuing two walks and giving up a pair of hits. Even so, Roberts came away encouraged.
“It was a good thing for the Dodgers and for Roki,” Roberts noted. “We’ll have some conversations after this one.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Sasaki is flying to Los Angeles to meet with the organization about next steps. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the decision is approaching: either bring him up now or keep him refining in the minors until 2026.
Potential October Weapon
The postseason picture is where things get particularly intriguing. A high-velocity arm capable of missing bats at an elite rate is exactly what the Dodgers’ bullpen has lacked at times, especially with Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, Tony Gonsolin, and others managing injuries. Whether as a multi-inning bridge option or in leverage spots, Sasaki has the arsenal to change the look of October games.
Roberts admitted the idea is tempting.
“Anything’s possible. 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.”
Looking Ahead
For now, Sasaki’s progress represents something bigger than a rehab milestone—it signals that the Dodgers’ investment in the 23-year-old could pay dividends sooner than expected. If his health holds and his stuff continues to play against advanced competition, Los Angeles may have an electric arm to deploy when the season matters most.
The next few days will determine whether Sasaki’s return comes in time for September, or whether his Dodger debut as a potential October X-factor will have to wait.