Roki Sasaki made his Los Angeles Dodgers spring training debut on Tuesday and he did not disappoint. Facing the Cincinnati Reds, Sasaki was electric, striking out five in three scoreless innings and hitting 99.3 on his fastball. Here’s the breakdown and what it means for him.
Sasaki’s Performance: He’s the Real Deal
Three scoreless innings, two hits, one walk, one HBP, five K’s. Sasaki followed Yoshinobu Yamamoto who pitched four strong innings and set the stage for Sasaki’s big debut.
According to Baseball Savant, Sasaki averaged 98 mph on his 25 four-seamers, hitting 99.3 on his max fastball. He mixed in 18 splitters and three sliders. The splitter was a weapon—7 of his 8 whiffs. He’s got one of the best splitters in the world and hitters were swinging at air.
Velocity was impressive but not quite to the level we saw at the 2023 World Baseball Classic where he hit 100+ on 26 of 29 fastballs. But 98 is nothing to sneeze at—it would put him among the top pitchers in MLB. Last year Paul Skenes led all MLB pitchers with at least 1500 pitches with a 98.8 four-seam average.
The Velocity Quest
Sasaki’s velocity has been a topic of discussion since he signed with the Dodgers. After a down year in 2024, getting his velocity back was #1 on his list. During the off-season, Sasaki asked every team to tell him why he lost some of his velocity and how they could help him get it back. The Dodgers’ answer clearly resonated with him, but it’s still a work in progress.
He didn’t hit triple digits this time around, but his arsenal was still enough to dominate NPB hitters. But the transition to MLB batters—who have seen triple-digit heat their entire careers—will be the real test of his rookie season.
Challenges Ahead: Adapting to MLB Batters
Sasaki’s stuff was electric, but not untouchable. Two batters hit his fastball foul for what would have been home runs if they had kept it fair. This is the challenge Sasaki will face as he adjusts to MLB competition. NPB hitters may have struggled to catch up to his velocity, but MLB batters have seen guys like Sasaki before and won’t be intimidated by his speed alone.
The key for Sasaki is to refine his secondary pitches, especially his splitter, to complement his fastball. If he can do that, he’ll be one of the best pitchers in the league.
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