The most pressing question surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki this year concerns the speed with which he will adapt to the major leagues. While his performance in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league was exceptional, boasting a 2.10 ERA over four seasons and establishing him as one of the world’s most sought-after young pitchers, his professional experience differs from that of other Japanese imports. Notably, Sasaki never exceeded 20 starts in a single season, a contrast to the more extensive professional track records of players like his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, upon their arrival in MLB.
Los Angeles Dodgers Looking For Roki Sasaki 3rd Pitch To Add To Dominant Fastball And Splitter
The Dodgers are actively exploring which pitch he can add to his impressive repertoire, which will elevate his game to the MLB level. Although Sasaki impressed scouts with his occasionally triple-digit fastball and highly regarded splitter, he has yet to consistently develop a reliable third pitch, a process that continues as he progresses through Dodgers spring training.
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“We are still searching,” manager Dave Roberts said of Sasaki’s third pitch. “I do think that seeing hitters will kind of help us figure out what direction to go with what should be his third pitch versus right or left.”
During Wednesday’s live batting practice session, Sasaki primarily featured his slider as his third pitch, a pitch that garnered mixed reviews from scouts during his time in Japan. David Bote, a right-handed hitter, reported seeing only fastballs and sliders from Sasaki. Tommy Edman, a switch hitter batting from the left side, also faced a slider in his second plate appearance. Edman laid off a “backdoor” slider that missed wide of the strike zone, ultimately drawing a walk—Sasaki’s only walk of the session.
“It’s important, especially as a starter, to be able to have that third pitch you’re able to throw for a strike,” Edman said. “It looked like it had some good movement. I know a couple of the righties said they saw a few good ones, too. It’ll be definitely a very important pitch for him.”
Fortunately, there is ample time remaining before the start of the regular season. While Sasaki is anticipated to transition directly into significant major league action—potentially making his debut in the second game of the Dodgers’ season-opening series in Tokyo next month—the depth of the team’s starting rotation provides him with some leeway to navigate the inevitable challenges of adapting to the highest level of competition.