Roki Sasaki Issues Six Walks and Surrenders Five Runs in Final Spring Tune-Up

Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki struggled with his command on Monday night, walking six batters and hitting two more in a 66-pitch outing against the Los Angeles Angels.

Roki Sasaki threw 66 pitches, only 32 of which were strikes, during a laboring performance at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. The 24-year-old right-hander surrendered five runs and issued six walks over two-plus innings of work against the Los Angeles Angels. This outing inflated his spring training earned run average to 15.58 across four exhibition starts. Through 8⅔ innings of Cactus League and exhibition play, the former Chiba Lotte Marines star has now allowed 15 free passes, raising significant concerns regarding his mechanical consistency heading into the 2025 regular season.

In the opening frame, Sasaki failed to record an out before being temporarily removed under spring training's flexible substitution rules. He began the game by hitting Zach Neto with a 3-0 fastball and subsequently walked three consecutive hitters after Mike Trout reached on a fielder’s choice. Left-hander Ronan Kopp was summoned from the bullpen to finish the first inning, though Sasaki was permitted to return for the second to continue building his pitch count. The Japanese sensation struggled to find the zone with his signature splitter, often missing low and away to right-handed hitters.

The second inning offered little reprieve as the right-hander hit Neto for a second time and walked Trout on five pitches. Despite the traffic, he managed to navigate the frame without surrendering a hit, relying on a pair of groundouts to escape further damage. His velocity sat primarily in the 97-99 mph range, a slight dip from the triple-digit figures he frequently touched during his tenure in Nippon Professional Baseball. Observers noted a lack of finish on his secondary offerings, which contributed to the high walk total.

Sasaki’s third inning provided a solitary glimpse of the dominant form that made him a global prospect, as he struck out Jo Adell and Josh Lowe in succession. These two punchouts were the only strikeouts he recorded during the entire 66-pitch appearance. However, the inning began with a leadoff walk to Yoán Moncada, marking the fifth free pass of the evening. Logan O’Hoppe eventually ended the threat by lining out to second base, providing the Dodgers' coaching staff with a brief moment of defensive stability.

The night concluded officially in the fourth inning when Sasaki issued his sixth walk to Adam Frazier. Manager Dave Roberts opted for a permanent pitching change, bringing in Ben Casparius to replace the struggling starter. Frazier eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Schanuel, a run that was ultimately charged to Sasaki’s final line. The final box score reflected zero hits allowed, yet the five runs surrendered underscored the volatility of a performance defined by eight total baserunners allowed via walks or hit batsmen.

Financially, the Dodgers secured Sasaki’s services in January 2025 through a minor league contract featuring a $6.5 million signing bonus. Due to MLB’s international signing age restrictions, the pitcher was unable to command a traditional free-agent mega-deal, making him a high-value acquisition for the Los Angeles front office. His transition to the United States follows a 2024 NPB season where he posted a 4.46 ERA across 42⅓ innings. That campaign was notably interrupted by a right shoulder impingement that sidelined him for a significant portion of the summer.

During the Dodgers' 2024 World Series championship run, Sasaki served as a high-leverage reliever rather than a member of the starting rotation. He excelled in that capacity, pitching 10⅔ postseason innings while allowing just one earned run and recording three saves. This history of success in short stints has led to internal discussions about his optimal role for the upcoming season. With Yoshinobu Yamamoto scheduled to start the season opener against Arizona on Thursday, Sasaki appears likely to begin the year in a developmental or secondary role.

Statistically, the right-hander’s strike percentage on Monday sat at a meager 48.4%, a figure well below the league average for projected rotation members. His inability to get ahead in counts forced him to rely on fastballs in hitter-friendly counts, which the Angels' lineup patiently exploited by taking close pitches. The Dodgers' analytics department will likely scrutinize the release point data from this outing, as Sasaki appeared to be flying open early in his delivery, causing his pitches to sail high and arm-side.

As the regular season approaches, the Los Angeles pitching staff faces a dilemma regarding their newest high-profile addition. While the raw tools remain elite, the lack of command displayed in this 66-pitch exhibition suggests a need for further refinement. The team has not yet announced whether Sasaki will remain with the big-league club for the opening series or if he will be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to find his rhythm. For now, the focus remains on correcting the mechanical flaws that led to 15 walks in fewer than nine innings of spring work.