Roki Sasaki has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City for 31 days now, meaning that he would normally need to be activated from the injured list or pulled off his rehab assignment today. That’s not the case in this instance, however, as manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Fabian Ardaya) on Friday that Sasaki dealt with “a calf situation” during his rehab that extended the time he could be allowed to spend in Triple-A. He’ll make at least one more start in the minors, per Roberts, at which point it’s possible he’ll move back into pitching in MLB games.
Sasaki, 23, was perhaps the single most coveted free agent available last offseason after he made the decision to be posted for MLB clubs early. Sasaki’s decision meant that clubs couldn’t spend more than the sum of their international bonus pool money in order to lure the right-hander into signing a contract with them, meaning that virtually every team in baseball got involved in the Sasaki sweepstakes. The Dodgers ultimately came out on top, and while many at the time thought they had just locked up an ace for pennies on the dollar Sasaki has struggled in his first season stateside.
The right-hander posted a 4.72 ERA in eight starts for the Dodgers while walking (22) nearly as many batters as he struck out (24) before being placed on the injured list with a shoulder impingement back in May. He’s been sidelined ever since, and after he made his first rehab start at Triple-A on August 14 he’s not shown many signs of improvement. Those 18 2/3 innings of work with Oklahoma City have seen him pitch to a 6.75 ERA. While his 13.6% walk rate and 18.2% walk rate are both marginal improvements over his numbers in the big leagues, they’re still far below par in terms of command and not close to what one would expect from someone with Sasaki’s electric stuff.
Talented as the youngster is, it’s fair to wonder at this point whether the Dodgers would really be best served having Sasaki start big league games in the middle of a pennant race that figures to go down to the wire. Roberts didn’t specifically state what role Sasaki would take up upon returning to the big league club, but he did note that his “impression” is that Sasaki would be open to pitching in relief for the team if that’s what the club requires. With some combination of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto exceedingly likely to make up the Dodgers’ postseason rotation anyway, perhaps Sasaki could benefit from moving to the bullpen and focusing on maximizing his stuff in shorter bursts.
If Sasaki can prove to be effective in a relief role, that could be a huge relief for the Dodgers headed into the postseason given the struggles key relief arms like Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and even Blake Treinen have faced this year. With those late-inning veterans scuffling, the Dodgers already seem likely to rely more on young, talented hurlers like Alex Vesia and Jack Dreyer in high leverage situations moving forward. It would be a massive boon for the Dodgers if Sasaki can be part of that mix headed into the playoffs.
I’m sure the Dodgers didn’t foresee any of this happening when they came to terms with him way before he was posted.
Though not every Japanese baseball player is going to be a Dodgers player.
……hmmmm, really.
Guess I can’t blame them, but man it would be cool to see these guys spread out.
BUT is also pretty funny if the dodgers at some point roll out 5 Japanese born hurlers.
Do it. Can’t be any worse than Kirby Yates and his fastball that can’t break glass + splitter that doesn’t split
Dang dude was eovaldi untouchable last year mixing those two. I suppose they live and die by the tumble on the splitter. Id have rather had him out there than clase, bednar, Miller. Half for the results, half for the experience. Suddenly the splitter isn’t as sudden… And dang
Hope it pans out for Roki this season. If not, he’ll be set for next year. On a side note- I find it humorous that some folks are calling Sasaki a “bust” signing even though he’s making minimum MLB league salary with a signing bonus that was less than a top draft pick slot value and is under pre arb for the next couple of years.
and he’s controlled ’til ’31…the bar is so low you have to dig it up. I can’t imagine his first year in the States and playing MLB with a different schedule was unanticipated. Frankly, he’s performed better than I would have imagined and fear what is coming in next years for opponents.
That doesn’t make any sense. He’s not a bust because he doesn’t make money. He’s a bust because he came in with all this hype to be the next big thing and he isn’t.
He has 8 GS (34.1 IP) with an addt 18.2 IP in MiLB play…at what point is any judgment on him too soon?
I’m not an apologist of his, but he didn’t even get the kind of bonus most of the top of the 1st round in MLB Drafts get….and they get all of a 3-6 years between MiLB-MLB play to determine if they’re a ‘bust.’ I get he’s coming from pro play overseas, but we can all agree…it’s not the same thing. And these players are having significant cultural learning curves that could affect their play.
@Bartolo not-Colon
He was talked about. He may have been hyped, but that’s on you to buy into it or not. Looks like you did.
His velo is way up during his last start hope it translates better next year
3.4 h/9 is absurd. How you even thought you had a chance. This year they’re floating just a tad more apparently
He has no choice but moving him to the pen makes the most sense. Considering how bad it’s been.
Might as well try him at closer at this point.
He may have closer velocity, but his fastball movement is still bad. Plus he doesn’t seem completley infallable, emotion wise right now. Is that who you want closing games out in a close divison race?
I would shut Roki down the year and see what he looks like in February. If this is Kershaw’s last year, Sasaki and Ferris can compete for the fifth rotation spot or a middle relief role.
Will he still sob on national TV when he inevitably serves up some taters?
No, I can see him coming back fine like Jake “The Snake” Roberts recovering from his alcoholism, though.
Up vote solely for the Jake the Snake shout out-clearly am genX
This was bs to have him pitching in the minors without having to option him and have him gain service time (probably something you agree with when going after a player of this caliber so they can hit free agency sooner)
Does it really matter lmao. He’s not going to be optioned enough over the years to the point of it being an issue
The comments about this are weird.
Pretty impressive that Sasaki has two different walk rates in the minors
I think it’s premature to call Sasaki a bust just yet. Let’s see what his numbers look like a year from now and then start talking.
Can he help the Dodgers bullpen? I’m not sure with numbers like those. The Dodgers are have a high wire act most nights thanks to Scott, Yates, and Treinen. Might be better just shutting him down and letting him get ready for next season
Maybe he can be considered a bust right now. A tag that will either be removed or not as time goes on.
I don’t think there is a rule that says you can’t call it for what it looks like at the moment.
Last time: Dodgers need to do better with these rookies. FES
The Dodgers “ultimately came out on top” for Roki’s services?
Seriously-they were the winners from day 1.
Everything else was the proverbial dog and pony show…. (YES sad Phillies phan here)