Roki Sasaki’s Road Back: Redemption, Mechanics, and a Growing Spotlight in L.A.
Roki Sasaki’s rookie season didn’t exactly go to plan. After arriving with sky-high expectations, the 22-year-old flamethrower logged just eight starts before landing on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. His ERA stood at 4.72 when he was shelved in early May, and he wouldn’t return to the mound in a big-league game until late September.
But what happened next? That’s where things get interesting.
The Dodgers played the long game with Sasaki’s recovery - and maybe more. While the official line was that they were cautious with his shoulder, the extended absence gave the organization a chance to let him work through some struggles away from the spotlight. No need to make a public move to the minors when rehab stints can serve the same purpose - quietly, and without the headlines.
When Sasaki did return, he wasn’t just back - he was different. The Dodgers slotted him into a high-leverage bullpen role, and he responded with the kind of electric stuff that had scouts buzzing when he first arrived from Japan.
Suddenly, the narrative shifted. The same pitcher who had been struggling with command and consistency early in the year was now blowing hitters away in the postseason.
So what changed?
According to reports, Sasaki initially resisted input from Dodgers coaches. That may help explain his early struggles in the minors during his rehab.
But eventually, he started working with pitching director Rob Hill on mechanical adjustments. And the results were immediate.
Sasaki’s delivery looked tighter, his fastball command sharper, and his splitter - already a devastating pitch - became nearly untouchable.
But here’s where the story takes a turn.
In a recent interview, Sasaki downplayed the idea that Hill was the catalyst for his turnaround. Instead, he credited himself, saying he discovered the flaws in his delivery by watching old video. That comment stirred up a fair amount of noise among Dodgers fans, especially after longtime columnist Dylan Hernández highlighted the quote and suggested Sasaki might be unwilling to share credit.
Some fans weren’t buying it. Others wondered if this was a sign of a bigger issue: was Sasaki just confident, or was he letting ego get in the way of growth?
Hernández didn’t back down. On a recent podcast appearance, he pointed out that Sasaki has consistently avoided naming Rob Hill when asked about his improvements.
“He says, ‘At some point I met with somebody who was kind of a pitching coach in Arizona,’” Hernández said. “‘We agreed on the ideas, but as far as the solution, I was the one who came up with it.’”
Whether you think Sasaki is simply being humble about his own process or brushing off the help he received, the situation does raise a few questions. Chief among them: how will the Dodgers handle things if their prized young arm continues to push back - or if he struggles again?
Manager Dave Roberts has already made it clear that Sasaki’s development is far from over. He’s publicly stated that the right-hander needs to add a third pitch to stick as a starter - and Sasaki’s response?
He’s working on a third and a fourth. That’s the kind of answer you want from a young pitcher trying to prove he belongs in a rotation, not just a bullpen.
But if those pitches don’t come together quickly - or if Sasaki’s command issues resurface - will the Dodgers be willing to send him back down, even if it brings some heat from the media and fans?
From the beginning, L.A. has framed Sasaki as a work in progress. That’s not just a scouting report - it’s a buffer.
A way to manage expectations while the talent catches up to the hype. But now that he’s had a taste of postseason success and shown flashes of dominance, the bar has been raised.
The Dodgers have invested heavily in Sasaki, both financially and in terms of their long-term pitching plans. They believe in his ceiling. But development isn’t always a straight line, and this next chapter - balancing self-belief with coachability, flashes of brilliance with consistency - will be crucial.
The good news for Dodgers fans? The raw tools are still there.
The fastball still explodes. The splitter still vanishes.
And if Sasaki can continue to refine his approach - whether that’s with help or on his own - the Dodgers might just have something special on their hands.
But make no mistake: the spotlight is on, and the expectations are only getting louder.