Roki Sasaki Seeks to Regain His Best Form
After spending the last three months on the injured list, Roki Sasaki is in the process of recovery and expressed optimism about his ability to regain his fastball velocity. The Japanese pitcher, who has been a highly anticipated figure, seeks to prove his worth on the mound again.Sasaki is scheduled to throw three simulated innings at Dodger Stadium this weekend, followed by a rehab assignment. The Dodgers plan to use Sasaki as a starter, although his final role is still to be determined. The Dodgers’ rotation is currently complete, with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow already recovered, Shohei Ohtani extended to at least four innings, and Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Emmet Sheehan completing the other three spots in a six-man rotation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, when asked about the possibility of Sasaki taking a bullpen spot, especially in October, replied: “I’m reserving that answer. I know we’ll take the best 13 pitchers. I’ve been part of many postseason rosters, so we’ll take the best 13 pitchers. If Roki is part of that somehow, then that would be great. And if he isn’t, then he won’t be.” Before considering any scenario, Sasaki must improve his performance. The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher arrived in the Major Leagues with high expectations, fueled by a fastball that reached three figures and an impressive splitter. However, evaluators recognized that he needed more experience. In his first eight starts, before entering the injured list, Sasaki recorded an ERA of 4.72 and didn’t complete six innings on seven occasions. In a span of 34⅓ innings, he walked almost as many batters (22) as he struck out (24). His four-seam fastball, often with control issues, saw its velocity decrease in his final outings. Often, his splitter was his only legitimate Major League pitch. Sasaki acknowledged that “American hitters have a different approach at the plate compared to Japanese hitters”.“I feel better being able to throw harder, especially because I don’t have any pain. That said, I have to face live hitters and see how my mechanics hold up. Being consistent; being able to do that consistently.”
Roki Sasaki
With this in mind, Sasaki has begun to experiment with a two-seam fastball, a pitch that heads towards right-handed batters and is designed to generate early contact, ideally ground balls. The hope is that it will eventually work as a second fastball to complement his splitter and slider. The current focus is on perfecting his pitching mechanics to avoid shoulder problems. Sasaki commented that he now has “a better understanding of where the pain came from and how to make sure it doesn’t return.” His mechanics “are not 100 percent right now,” Sasaki added, “but I think they’re going in the right direction.” When he returns, Sasaki will have to prove he deserves a place in the Major Leagues. “My intention is to return to the mound in the Major Leagues and pitch again. That said, I need to fight for the opportunity as well. I don’t think they’ll give me the opportunity right away.”“I can’t attack the same way I used to in Japan.”
Roki Sasaki
