After nearly three months out with a pinched right shoulder, Roki Sasaki returned to the mound with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. But what was supposed to be a step towards his return to the Major Leagues, ended up being a wake-up call, as the right-hander was only able to get six outs and failed to complete the third inning.
Sasaki was severely punished by the Albuquerque Isotopes offense, allowing six hits, one walk and three runs without a strikeout. Although his slider reached 95.7 mph, the lack of control and command was evident from the first pitch, needing 41 pitches for two innings.
Dodgers cool expectations as Sasaki seeks confidence
The team’s original plan was for Sasaki to reach five innings or 75 pitches before considering his return to the Major League rotation in late August or early September. For now, that goal seems further away than expected.
During his rehabilitation, the Japanese youngster worked on his mechanics and adding two-seam pitches to his repertoire, although he did not use it in this presentation.
A return with pressure at a key moment for the Dodgers
Before going on the injured list on May 13, Sasaki had posted a 4.72 ERA in eight starts in his first campaign with the Dodgers, combining obvious talent with the mistakes of a developing pitcher. His return comes just as Los Angeles is trying to catch the San Diego Padres at the top of the National League West.
With Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell back, the rotation has more stability, but Sasaki’s presence could be key as a backup or in strategic starts down the stretch. The problem, for now, is that the rookie is still far from the level the organization needs.
Read the full article here
