Los Angeles Dodgers have recovered their star, Shoei Ohtani, but they are still far from being able to count on the full roster. Recently, Roki Sasaki has suffered a new injury that has forced him to suspend his pitching training.
The outlook for the young Japanese pitcher is not encouraging, as according to information from Dave Roberts himself, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team is preparing to be able to move on without Sasaki for the rest of the 2025 season:
We have to plan life without him, at least this year
This confirms what many fans and experts already predicted, that Sasaki’s injury would be a serious matter. After some weeks of positive reports on his rehabilitation process, Roberts revealed that Sasaki has stopped pitching altogether due to persistent shoulder discomfort, and that no further tests will be carried out at this time.
Sasaki’s statistics with the Dodgers
Sasaki, 23, arrived in MLB with high expectations after his outstanding performance in Japan, where he even pitched a perfect game in 2022. His addition to the Dodgers generated excitement among fans and experts, who expected him to be a key piece in the team’s rotation.
However, the start of his career in Major League Baseball has been fraught with complications, as despite earning his first Major League victory on May 3, his performance was inconsistent. In eight starts, he went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 22 walks in 34.1 innings pitched. His WHIP rose to 1.49, reflecting difficulties in maintaining control, especially with his fastball.
The situation was compounded by a major shoulder injury, initially thought to be a minor ailment, however, recovery has been slower than expected, and although initially it was said that Sasaki was pain-free and would soon be pitching again for the Dodgers, that optimistic prognosis has now ended, as he is now expected to be out for at least the remainder of the season.
Where will Sasaki play next season?
With recent revelations about the Japanese pitcher’s physical condition, some media outlets began to point to a possible departure of Sasaki from the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Roberts himself has confirmed the continuity of the young prospect, stressing that the priority is to have him physically fit for next season.
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