After making a significant impact out of the bullpen in the postseason last year, Roki Sasaki is back to being viewed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a starting pitcher.<\/p>\n
Sasaki is looking to rebound from a disappointing rookie season that included missing more than four months because of a right shoulder impingement. After encouraging bullpen sessions and facing hitters in live batting practice, Sasaki was erractic in his 2026 Spring Training debut.<\/p>\n
MLB scouts critical of Roki Sasaki<\/p>\n
Sasaki fell short of the Dodgers’ goal to complete two innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and his performance drew a harsh review from MLB scouts that were in attendance at Salt River Fields, per Bob Nightengale<\/a> of USA Today.<\/p>\n Scouts in attendance also criticized Sasaki\u2019s performance, saying he showed a lack of confidence with his body language, with one scouting saying, \u201cHe looked scared to death.”<\/p>\n Confidence questions plagued the 24-year-old last season, but he seemed to erase doubts with an impressive showing as a reliever.<\/p>\n The Dodgers aren’t an organization that overreacts to a single Spring Training game, but manager Dave Roberts did acknowledge it is key for the young starter to show some improvement.<\/p>\n Sasaki’s fastball velocity in the start sat 96-98 mph, but it wasn’t consistently commanded and often resulted in giving up hard contact. Sasaki’s four-seamer topped out at 98.6 mph and averaged 96.9 mph.<\/p>\n Four of the first five batters reached safely in the bottom of the first inning, and the Diamondbacks took a 3-0 lead in the process.<\/p>\n Sasaki initially called his own pitches in the start, primarily relying on a four-seam fastball with only some cutters mixed in. Dalton Rushing assumed pitch-calling duties after Ildemaro Vargas hit a two-run double in the first inning, and Sasaki began to throw more splitters and some sinkers.<\/p>\n