Dave Roberts Provides Latest Report on Roki Sasaki From Dodgers Camp
With the influx of new faces arriving at Camelback Ranch for spring training, one player in particular is garnering fanfare unlike anyone else on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old phenom, took the baseball world by storm upon his arrival from Japan. Initially, 20 MLB teams were interested in the right-hander, but the long process of courting the star ended with him signing in Los Angeles to start the next chapter of an already dominant young pitching career.
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With spring in full-force, and Opening Day looming closer, fans are anxious to finally see Sasaki throw in game-action.
Although not a Cactus League contest, Sasaki pitched three innings in a simulated game against Chicago White Sox prospects. It was less than the dominant expectations that the world has for him, but manager Dave Roberts reminded critics that he is not just young, but still learning.
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“This is kind of where we expected him to be,” Roberts said. “His words, he’s not a finished product. We feel the same way. But just seeing how his pitch mix plays against major league hitters, that’s going to keep adding confidence for him. So right now he’s got a good routine with our strength guys, our pitching guys. He’s getting really acclimated to Major League Baseball. He’s in a good spot.”
The jump to MLB from any level, at any age, is monumental. Given Sasaki has only logged 64 starts in four Nippon Professional Baseball seasons, the right-hander is still developing.
“Today overall, was a really good day for all of us,” said Roberts.
The caliber of players that Sasaki has to learn from, the elite organization and coaches there to support him, and of course knowing that Dodgers faithful will always have his back should also help this transition to the major leagues.
In Sasaki’s NPB career, he went 29-15 with a 2.10 ERA over 394.2 innings pitched. His 505 strikeouts to only 88 walks show immense potential as onlookers hope that these numbers translate to a long MLB career.
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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