The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a season marked by injuries, losing several of their main players at various times. Among them was the young Japanese Roki Sasaki, who suffered a right shoulder impingement that kept him out of action. However, his recovery is progressing well and his return to Major League Baseball seems to be getting closer and closer.
Rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City
In his most recent start with the Triple-A affiliate, Sasaki showed encouraging signs. He pitched four and two-thirds innings, striking out eight, walking four and allowing three runs on three hits. The Japanese pitcher threw 90 pitches – 52 of them in the strike zone – and averaged 98.6 mph with his fastball, a notable increase of four mph from his previous outing.
The performance of the young pitcher was well received by manager Dave Roberts, who spoke positively about his progress. “This is great. It’s a good thing for the Dodgers and for Roki,” said the strategist, hinting that the organization will soon evaluate where the Japanese could fit on the roster.
A luxury rotation in Los Angeles
Sasaki’s return would represent a boost for the current MLB champions, who already have an elite rotation led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan. Although there is no defined spot for him at the moment, his addition would increase the depth of the starting corps heading into the postseason.
Before his injury, Roki Sasaki had a record of 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts, with 24 strikeouts and 22 walks. Modest numbers for a rookie, but with plenty of room for improvement. His return is not only exciting for the Dodgers, but also for the fans, who hope to see him establish himself as one of the great sensations in baseball in the coming years.
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