Roki Sasaki’s Rocky Start with the Dodgers Raises Questions About Control

In a surprising turn of events, 23-year-old pitcher Roki Sasaki, once hailed as Japan’s most exciting young baseball talent, has had a less-than-stellar start to his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sasaki made his Dodger Stadium debut against the Detroit Tigers on March 29, 2025, where he struggled right from the beginning, leading to his early exit in the second inning. With his control faltering, both the manager and fans are left wondering what’s next for this promising pitcher.

The Troubling Debut

Sasaki’s first outing in Los Angeles turned out to be a challenge as he displayed inconsistent control. Key highlights from the game include:

• In his second start with the Dodgers, Sasaki faced 12 batters, throwing 61 pitches and only managing to record five outs.
• He issued four walks in just two innings and allowed two runs on three singles.
• In his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs, Sasaki walked five over three innings.

Sasaki struggled significantly with his command, falling behind in counts and lacking the dominant splitter that made him feared in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The crowd of 51,788 at Chavez Ravine, excited for his arrival, watched as he faced difficulty settling into the rhythm of the game, which ultimately resulted in a premature exit.

Manager and Player Reactions

After the game, Sasaki downplayed the nerves that might have contributed to his lack of control:

“I felt like I was able to get into the game pretty well, without any nerves. I just didn’t feel like I had the stuff today.”

This shows a level of self-awareness, but both manager Dave Roberts and catcher Will Smith suggested that nerves were indeed a factor in Sasaki’s struggles.

“He knows what he’s doing. He’s pitched on the biggest stages. So back to the drawing board,” Smith commented, expressing confidence that Sasaki will bounce back after some reflection and practice.

Continued Challenges Ahead

Despite the struggles in his first two outings, there remains optimism about Sasaki’s potential. However, noticeable trends in his performance raise a few key questions:

• Can Sasaki regain his control to match his impressive NPB statistics?
• Will he regain the effectiveness of his once-unhittable splitter?
• How will he adapt to the pressures of Major League Baseball, particularly at Dodger Stadium?

As Sasaki himself acknowledged:

“I don’t expect myself to be able to fix everything in a short period of time. That said, though, I do expect to put up quality outings as a major league pitcher.”

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Sasaki?

Sasaki’s next assignment will take him to Philadelphia, where he hopes to rebound from his early-season challenges. With the Dodgers scheduled for a series of days off in April, he will have suitable recovery time to work on his control in the bullpen leading up to his next start.

As the Dodgers also await the return of star pitcher Shohei Ohtani, who is ramping up toward a potential return in May, the Dodgers might adjust their rotation to accommodate their star as well as young talents like Sasaki.

Conclusion: A Learning Curve

Roki Sasaki might be facing a steep learning curve as he adapts to the demands of Major League Baseball, but the hope remains that he will harness his extraordinary talent and become a dominant force on the mound. Support from his teammates and the management could provide the foundation he needs to find success as a Dodger. As time will tell, the baseball world is eager to see if Sasaki can turn his early struggles into valuable lessons for future success.

Keywords: Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Detroit Tigers, pitching debut, control issues, Shohei Ohtani, bullpen.

Hashtags: #RokiSasaki #Dodgers #MLB #Baseball #Pitching #SportsNews #TokyoToMLB #FutureStar

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