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It looked like Roki Sasaki’s rookie year was about to come to a crashing thud.
Shoulder issues coupled with ineffectiveness saw the Japanese hurler shut things down in May. The Los Angeles Dodgers decided to not rush Sasaki back into action — instead allowing him to slowly work his way back while making requisite tweaks to his delivery.
Even though he disappointed relative to preseason expectations, there was a general thought that the 23-year-old could sit out the remainder of the year while rebooting ahead of 2026.
Based on what’s been showcased over the last two weeks, the decision to bring Sasaki back has been a wise one.
The rookie closed out Game 1 of the NLDS in front of a raucous crowd at Citizens Bank Park. Sasaki earned his first career save in October, recording a strikeout and hitting triple-digits on the radar gun.
He spoke to the media in Philadelphia ahead of Saturday’s Game 1 tilt versus the NL East champion Phillies. The right-handed pitcher specifically touched on the narrative that his year was going to end before being brought back into the mix during the final week of the regular season.
“The goal was to come back fully healthy and just fully ready to pitch again. So, I was cognizant that there could be that possibility that I may not pitch in the regular season again.”
There’s been a lot of support staff, coaching staff, the people around me who helped me get to where I am today. So, yes, very grateful for that.”
Sasaki saw a substantial leap in his velocity last month which clearly led to him making his way back onto the Major League roster. Two late appearances in the regular season saw Sasaki blow hitters away with a fastball north of 100 mph and his signature tumbling splitter. While this is not a quantifiable fact, Sasaki’s body language exuded far more confidence compared to what he demonstrated earlier in the year.
While there was no guarantee the team would see him on the mound dating back to his departure in May, the Dodgers have to be thrilled at his development given how important he has become for LA in the postseason.
Saturday’s performance was simply confirmation: Sasaki is the real deal.
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Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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