Roki Sasaki, the latest international sensation to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, made his much-anticipated spring training debut in the Cactus League, and he did not disappoint.
We all know spring training stats don’t count in the grand scheme of things. When you watch a guy like Sasaki step onto a Major League mound for the first time and deliver the kind of performance he did, it’s hard not to get excited.
A Dodgers Debut to Remember
Here’s how it all went down. Manager Dave Roberts had a plan. Sasaki would come in as a reliever in the fifth inning, following fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who put in four innings of work and gave up two earned runs.
The stage was set, the crowd was watching, and Sasaki wasted zero time making an impression. In three scoreless innings, he allowed just two hits, struck out five, and made his devastating splitter look every bit as unhittable as advertised.
Reds hitters were left shaking their heads as Sasaki’s pitches disappeared from their bats like a magician pulling off a disappearing act.
Signs of Greatness, Room to Grow
Now, was everything perfect? No, but you take the good with the learning moments for a first outing. Sasaki had a couple of control hiccups—he plunked Stuart Fairchild, walked Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and even threw a wild pitch.
That’s nothing unusual for a young pitcher making his MLB debut, even in a preseason setting. What matters is that his stuff looked great. He showed the kind of poise you want to see from a guy expected to make a major impact.
The Dodgers expect Sasaki to be a difference-maker. This is a team that already has an extremely talented rotation, and Sasaki’s presence only makes it stronger.
He’s young, confident, and stepping into a clubhouse where the standard is championship or bust. But based on what we saw in his first outing, he looks more than ready for the challenge.
A Mindset Built for Success
Sasaki seems to understand exactly what’s at stake. He spoke about his confidence in his ability to challenge big-league hitters after the game. He said (via SportsNet LA), “As long as I throw quality pitches, I should be able to get these guys out.”
Still, it’s just the beginning. One good spring training outing doesn’t guarantee success. But if this debut was any indication, Sasaki has the tools to thrive against MLB hitters.
If he keeps this up, don’t be surprised if he becomes a key part of this Dodgers rotation sooner rather than later.
