At the beginning of the year, the Los Angeles Dodgers introduced Roki Sasaki as the great revelation in MLB and as the great jewel of the Japanese market to debut in the United States. However, at 23 years of age, it is difficult to assimilate the media role that the Angelenos’ management and the league itself generated around the Japanese pitcher.
However, an injury in his first appearances has made it difficult for him to demonstrate why he arrived with such great expectations.
It is worth noting that the reigning champions go as leaders of the National League West Division when they face the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series that begins on Friday, June 13. This will be the second of three consecutive divisional series the Dodgers will play after they managed to secure their first matchup against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday.
When will Roki Sasaki return to the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Roki’s debut was in the MLB season opener. Although it was in his own homeland, the media attention was brutal. However, last May 9 he suffered a shoulder injury against the Arizona Diamondbacks that has kept him out of action for more than a month and it is still unclear when he will return.
Dodgers pitching manager Mark Prior was able to provide an update on the rookie and it seems the team is being patient with Sasaki despite the injury problem that has been plaguing Los Angeles.
Sasaki joined the long list of injured pitchers and has been rehabilitating his shoulder in the hope of returning to the mound later in the month. “He doesn’t feel pain, but he’s not yet at the point where he can apply enough intensity to move forward in his progression. It’s just soft reception, just exercising his pitching, not necessarily forcing it,” Prior said at a press conference at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles Dodgers looking for another Divisional victory
Sasaki is currently on the 15-day injured list and will be monitored as the season progresses. The Japan Pacific League star signed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $760,000 minor league contract that included a $6.5 million signing bonus with Los Angeles because he was under 25 years old. In his first eight major league starts, he has gone through difficult adjustments, posting a 4.72 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP and has struck out 24 batters in 34.1 innings pitched.
Despite this, Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, remains confident in the starting and relief pitchers for their upcoming games against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium, a duel that has generated strong expectations where the difference between the two teams is one game. The MLB champions have a record of 41 wins and 28 losses, while the Bay Area team is 40-29
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