Roki Sasaki struggles mark him as biggest disappointment in Dodgers debut

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 10, 2025, 18:00 IST

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Roki Sasaki's arrival into MLB has been a combination of high hopes and early setbacks. Though his ability is clear, control problems and the strain of adapting to a new league have affected his early performances. The Dodgers and fans alike continue to expect that with time and experience, Roki Sasaki will settle in and live up to the potential that made him one of the most highly anticipated rookies of the 2025 campaign.

Roki Sasaki struggles mark him as biggest disappointment in Dodgers debut (Image Source: MLB/X)

Roki Sasaki, Japan's most heralded pitching prospect, arrived at the Los Angeles Dodgers with huge expectations. Famous for his scorching fastball and devastating splitter, Roki Sasaki’s introduction to Major League Baseball has come with excitement as well as tests. Though raw talent cannot be denied, early outings have also identified areas of need for tweaking, prompting some analysts to designate him as one of the early disappointments of the season.

Roki Sasaki struggles to meet expectations in first season with Dodgers

Roki Sasaki made his MLB debut in the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs.

Operation Sindoor

Before a hometown crowd, he showed off his dynamite arm, throwing 100-plus mph fastballs. Control problems were also apparent. Roki Sasaki yielded one run on one hit over three innings but walked five, including a bases-loaded walk that scored a run. Of 56 pitches, there were just 25 strikes, a strike rate well under the MLB average of 64%.

Follow-up outings reflected such difficulties. In a game against the Detroit Tigers, Roki Sasaki was taken out after 1.2 innings, having conceded two runs on three hits and four walks. The psychological strain was apparent as he was spotted crying in the dugout, an incident that moved fans and pointed to the pressure international rookies have to endure.

Dodgers still believe Roki Sasaki can turn season around

Baseball pundits have observed that although Roki Sasaki’s splitter and fastball are big league-caliber, his command and consistency overall need work. Statistics like xFIP and xERA have been above wanted levels, showing underlying issues in performance rather than surface stats.The coaching staff of the Dodgers remains hopeful, pointing to Roki Sasaki’s ability and the normal adjustment time for players coming from Japan's NPB to MLB. Manager Dave Roberts accepted the variation in performance, saying, "When you get youth and talent, which is Roki, what that brings in is variance. So there's going to be some really high highs, and then some things that you just don't know that are gonna happen, because of his inexperience".Also Read: Dodgers See Roki Sasaki’s Potential But Control Issues Raise Doubts About His Long-Term Success

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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