This winter, the Los Angeles Dodgers added a number of seasoned players to their roster, but the finest acquisition could turn out to be a rookie.
Following their 2024 World Series victory, the Dodgers signed All-Star veterans Tanner Scott and Blake Snell. However, they also acquired the much sought-after Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki, who has yet to throw a pitch in a Major League Baseball game despite dominating in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Because of this, everyone was watching Sasaki’s spring training game last night. It was his first time playing in the Cactus League, which was a more official debut following the live batting practice sessions he has already had against colleagues and some Chicago White Sox prospects. Sasaki also lived up to expectations, tossing three shutout innings and recording five strikeouts.
Sonja Chen writes at MLB.com that “once Roki Sasaki fired his first Cactus League pitch on Tuesday night, all eyes were on the radar gun.” “The speed was 99.2 mph.” The tone for a successful spring debut was established by that initial offering.
Additionally, some post-game remarks might pique Dodgers fans’ interest in Sasaki if the rookie’s slow buildup to his first official Major League Baseball debut hasn’t been enough. After the game, Sasaki made a daring prediction regarding his prospects of facing the world’s top hitters.
According to SportsNet LA, he stated via an interpreter, “I felt really good about being able to jam some hitters and as long as I throw quality pitches, I should be able to get these guys out.”
With a club full of potential Hall of Famers and legitimate frontline aces, it may seem unlikely that the 23-year-old Sasaki might end up being the Dodgers’ most significant winter acquisition. Thus far, however, all indications suggest that possibility.
