After a regular season marked by uncertainty, the Los Angeles Dodgers have closed ranks around Roki Sasaki, the young Japanese pitcher who was the center of attention during free agency. At just 23 years of age and with a brilliant track record in the Japanese Professional League, Sasaki arrived with great expectations that quickly turned into questions after an unstable start in Major League Baseball.
With an ERA of 4.72 in his first eight starts and a recipe that did not reach the promised speeds, many began to wonder if the Japanese phenomenon was ready for the MLB level. A shoulder injury kept him out for more than four months, further increasing skepticism about his adaptation. However, within the Angels organization, faith in his potential was never lost.
Roki Sasaki responds in playoffs and Dodgers back him with key role
As the Dodgers’ rotation continued to perform at a high level heading into the postseason, the coaching staff decided to move Sasaki to the bullpen to exploit a new role. In his final rehab outings at Triple-A, the right-hander surprised with an increase of more than 6 km/h on his fastball, finally reaching the speed that made him famous in Japan.
The leap was not only physical, but also mental. In October, Sasaki closed out the Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds and then earned two crucial saves in the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Doing so at Citizens Bank Park, considered one of the most hostile playoff venues, only reinforces the message: Roki is ready for this level.
Rob Hill on Sasaki: “Never give up on someone”
The Dodgers’ pitching director’s phrase sums up the spirit with which the team faces the last external doubts: “Never, ever, give up on someone, never give up, no matter how bad the circumstances. Because you never know,” Rob Hill told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The phrase not only sums up Roki Sasaki’s journey this season, it also reveals the mentality with which the team faces challenges.
Far from considering it a failed project, the Dodgers see Sasaki as a long-term bet that is beginning to bear fruit just when it matters most. The message to his critics was clear: talent does not disappear, sometimes it just needs time and the right context.
Read the full article here
