Can Roki Sasaki live up to the hype as a Dodgers starter? The young pitcher’s journey took an intriguing turn during his first Cactus League start in Scottsdale, Arizona, leaving fans and analysts alike with more questions than answers. Fresh off a promising debut season as a high-leverage reliever, Sasaki stepped onto the mound Wednesday aiming to prove he’s ready for a bigger role in the Dodgers’ rotation. But here’s where it gets controversial: his performance was anything but smooth.
The 24-year-old right-hander, known for his blazing fastball that topped out at 98.6 mph, struggled to find the strike zone, throwing only 17 strikes out of 36 pitches. The Arizona Diamondbacks capitalized, tagging him for three runs on three hits and two walks in just 1.1 innings. While Sasaki did flash his potential with three strikeouts, including a dominant punchout of Druw Jones, his command issues were hard to ignore.
“There were some positive things, but also things I need to work on,” Sasaki admitted through an interpreter after his outing. He pointed to his forkball and four-seam fastball, which felt sharp in the bullpen but lost their edge once the game began. This inconsistency raises a bold question: Is Sasaki’s transition to the rotation happening too fast?
The inning unfolded like a rollercoaster. After surrendering a hard-hit single to Geraldo Perdomo and walking Tim Tawa, Nolan Arenado laced a line-drive double to left, scoring Perdomo. Ildemaro Vargas followed with another double, plating two more runs for a 3-0 Diamondbacks lead. A mound visit from pitching coach Mark Prior seemed to steady Sasaki momentarily, as he struck out Jordan Lawlar and Ryan Waldschmidt to end the inning. However, after walking Aramis Garcia to start the second, his day was done.
Manager Dave Roberts remains optimistic, emphasizing Sasaki’s growth potential. “We’re expecting him to be good, and he’s expecting to be good,” Roberts said. “But Roki is still developing, and he won’t be fully polished by the season start—that’s normal.” Sasaki spent the offseason refining a third pitch, a “slider-cutter” hybrid, to complement his fastball-splitter combo. Yet, Wednesday’s outing suggests he may need more time to master this new weapon.
And this is the part most people miss: Sasaki’s postseason success as a reliever last year—just one run allowed over 10.2 innings—set high expectations. But transitioning to a starter role is no small feat, especially for a pitcher still honing his craft.
Meanwhile, other Dodgers pitchers made their Cactus League debuts with quieter but effective outings. River Ryan pitched a scoreless third inning, walking one and striking out one, while Edwin Díaz allowed just one hit and struck out a batter in the fourth.
As Sasaki continues to refine his game, the debate rages on: Can he become the rotation stalwart the Dodgers need, or is he better suited for a bullpen role? What do you think? Is Sasaki’s future in the rotation secure, or should the Dodgers reconsider his role? Let us know in the comments—this is one conversation that’s just heating up.
