Roki Sasaki is gearing up for a pivotal season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the anticipation is palpable. After a rookie year filled with ups and downs, Sasaki is looking to solidify his place as a starting pitcher, a role both he and the Dodgers are eager for him to embrace.
Last year, Sasaki bypassed the minors to join the Dodgers' rotation, a bold move considering his youth and limited experience with American baseball. His early starts were a mixed bag, with challenges in maintaining velocity and pitch location. An injury sidelined him for a significant part of the season, but upon his return, Sasaki shined in the bullpen, showcasing his potential as a dominant reliever.
Now, as Spring Training kicks off, all eyes are on Sasaki to see what adjustments he's made. The buzz is particularly around any new pitches he might unveil.
During his first Spring Training outing, Sasaki threw 27 pitches over 1.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and three hits, while striking out two and walking one. Not the start he hoped for, but it's early days.
The highlight, however, was the debut of his much-anticipated third pitch-a cutter. This pitch, sometimes described as a “gyro-slider” or “gyro-cutter,” adds a new dimension to his arsenal, complementing his fastball and splitter.
Sasaki also experimented with four sinkers, a pitch he rarely used last season. Clearly, he's expanding his repertoire, and Spring Training is the perfect laboratory for such experimentation.
While it's uncertain if the sinker will become a regular part of his game, the cutter seems poised to be a key weapon. Dodgers fans have every reason to be excited about Sasaki's development. Though there may be growing pains, the potential payoff could be significant, with Sasaki emerging as a formidable force in the Dodgers' rotation.