Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, who has been sidelined for the past three months, reported Tuesday that he is now “completely pain free” in his right shoulder as he resumes throwing activities. After seeing his fastball velocity decline before being shut down, he expressed confidence in his ability to regain his previous form.
“I feel better about being able to throw harder, especially because I’m completely pain free,” Sasaki stated through an interpreter. “With that being said, I do have to just face live hitters and see how my mechanics hold.”
Sasaki is scheduled to pitch three simulated innings at Dodger Stadium this weekend before beginning a minor league rehab assignment, where the team intends to prepare him to return as a starting pitcher.
However, his path back to the majors is complicated by a crowded and high-powered Dodgers rotation. With Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow healthy, the starting staff currently features Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Emmet Sheehan.
When asked about a potential bullpen role for Sasaki, particularly in the postseason, manager Dave Roberts remained non-committal. “We’re going to take the 13 best pitchers,” Roberts said. “If Roki is a part of that in some capacity, then that would be great. And if he’s not, then he won’t be.”
Sasaki’s return hinges on improved performance. The 23-year-old right-hander, one of the most heralded pitchers to come from Japan, struggled to meet high expectations before his injury. Through his first eight starts, he posted a 4.72 ERA, walked nearly as many batters (22) as he struck out (24), and often failed to pitch deep into games. His four-seam fastball command was inconsistent, and its velocity dipped into the mid-90s in his final outings.
Sasaki acknowledged the need to adapt, noting that “American hitters have a different approach at the plate compared to Japanese hitters. I can’t really attack the same way that I used to.”
In response, he is developing a two-seam fastball designed to generate weak, early-count contact and complement his elite splitter and slider.
The immediate priority, however, is solidifying his delivery to prevent further shoulder issues. Sasaki said he has “a better understanding a second time through on where the pain came from and how to make sure that the pain doesn’t come back.” He described his mechanics as “not 100 percent right now, but I think it’s in the right direction.”
Ultimately, Sasaki understands that a spot on the roster is not guaranteed. “My every intention is to get back on the major league mound and pitch again,” he said. “With that being said, I do need to fight for the opportunity, too. I don’t think that I’ll just be given the opportunity right away.”
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