Roki Sasaki and His Shoulder Issues: A Look at the Dodgers Pitcher’s Challenge
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki is currently on the injured list due to a shoulder injury, a situation reminiscent of a similar issue he experienced in Japan last season. Although the primary cause of the decrease in his velocity remains uncertain, the player has shared details about his condition.
“It’s hard to say if it’s the main reason why my velocity and control were affected,” Sasaki commented through an interpreter.
Roki Sasaki
Sasaki described his injury, classified by the team as an impingement, as “not necessarily pain, but simply not the ideal way I want my shoulder to move.” The discomfort began two starts ago, around the beginning of May. Since then, Sasaki allowed a total of eight runs on 11 hits and four walks in nine innings before being placed on the injured list.
The young pitcher, highly sought after in the international market, has recorded an ERA of 4.72 in his first eight starts in the Major Leagues, accumulating almost as many walks (22) as strikeouts (24) in 34⅓ innings.
The challenges have confirmed the concerns of some within the Dodgers and the industry about Sasaki’s development, despite his great talent. The performance of his fastball, a crucial pitch for his splitter, has been worrying.
Sasaki’s fastball used to reach triple digits in Japan, but it hasn’t hit that mark since his season-opening start in Tokyo in mid-March. Since then, his fastball has averaged 95.7 mph. In three of his starts, including the two most recent, it has dipped into the 94 mph range. Overall, opposing hitters have posted an OPS of .873 against that pitch.
Control of the fastball was a primary concern for evaluators who observed Sasaki in 2024, but he managed to record an effectiveness of 2.35 and strike out 129 batters, limiting himself to 111 innings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes that Sasaki’s current velocity decrease is a product of the mechanical adjustments he is still working on, but that it has also been exacerbated by another episode of shoulder problems.
When asked what has contributed to the discomfort over the past two years, Sasaki replied: “There is nothing, so to speak, that I can say for sure. But it’s a very good time to make sure I can get to the bottom of this.”
Sasaki is not currently pitching, but Roberts said he is not expected to receive an injection to relieve the pain. The Dodgers will hold a bullpen game on Thursday, in what was supposed to be Sasaki’s next start, but will welcome Clayton Kershaw back to their rotation on Saturday, giving them a fifth starter. Both Snell and Glasnow have been cleared by doctors to restart their throwing programs, but must overcome several steps before they can chart a path back.
The same can be said of Sasaki, who will essentially start from scratch, an opportunity to also work on some of the mechanical adjustments needed for him to succeed in the Major Leagues.
“I think this is a good time to be able to do that,” Sasaki said. “I want to make sure I’m completely healthy and be able to tackle anything I have so that leads to better performance.”
Roki Sasaki
