When the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2024, they did what many championship teams dream of doing: they got even more aggressive. Already loaded with star power and considered the best team in MLB, the Dodgers attacked the starting pitching market and brought in several high-profile arms. One of the most intriguing additions was Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-hander widely viewed as one of the most talented pitchers in the world. Signing Sasaki was the easy part. Because he was under 25 years old, the Dodgers didn’t have to hand out a massive free-agent contract. The difficult part came afterward.
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Sasaki’s rookie season did not go according to plan. The electric right-hander struggled to consistently command his pitches and failed to live up to the enormous expectations placed on him. Things became even more complicated when injuries entered the picture, limiting his ability to find any rhythm.
When he eventually returned, many expected the Dodgers to send him to the minor leagues or significantly reduce his role.
Instead, Los Angeles made a bold decision. The Dodgers moved Sasaki to the bullpen and trusted him in meaningful situations during their 2025 postseason run. While the move helped the club capture another championship, it also showed how committed the organization remained to his long-term development.
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If there were doubts entering 2026, Spring Training only amplified them. Sasaki was rocked for a 15.58 ERA over four starts, walking 15 batters in just 8 2/3 innings. Many organizations would have viewed those numbers as a clear sign that additional minor league seasoning was needed.
The Dodgers saw it differently. Rather than sending him down, they handed him a spot in the starting rotation anyway. The results initially looked ugly. Sasaki surrendered 15 earned runs in 18.1 innings during April, and the criticism surrounding the young pitcher only grew louder. Yet Los Angeles never wavered.
Patience appears to be paying off. While May started slowly, Sasaki finished the month by allowing just four earned runs across his final three starts. The improvement continued into June, when he delivered his most dominant outing of the season: seven scoreless innings, two hits allowed, and 10 strikeouts.
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More importantly, he finally looked comfortable. The elite velocity, devastating splitter, and swing-and-miss stuff that made him one of baseball’s most coveted international prospects are beginning to show up consistently at the major league level.
For the Dodgers, this was always about the long game. They believed Sasaki could eventually become a front-line starter, even when the results suggested otherwise. Through injuries, poor performances, and mounting outside criticism, they continued to trust both the player and the process.
Now, that faith is beginning to be rewarded. It’s still early, but all signs point toward Sasaki finally figuring things out. If that’s truly the case, the Dodgers may have added another ace to an already loaded roster, making their gamble look smarter by the day.
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