Dodgers Pitcher Aki Sasaki Struggles in Spring Training Debut

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — So, about Aki Sasaki’s pitching? Well, let’s dive in.

At the core of it, his fastball is key. If he can’t consistently locate it, then all the new pitches he’s trying to develop—like that cutter or slider—won’t make much of a difference. This was pretty evident during his initial start of the exhibition season Wednesday.

During the game, Sasaki was reminiscent of his struggles from last season when he was expected to step up as a starter. He kept missing the mark, managing only 17 strikes out of 36 pitches.

He was slated for a two-inning appearance against the Diamondbacks, but it was cut short. After issuing a five-pitch walk to the second batter in the second inning, his day was done.

In total, he allowed three hits—including two doubles—and two walks, resulting in three earned runs. On a positive note, his fastball reached an impressive 96.9 mph.

Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, had his thoughts on Sasaki’s performance: “I thought he was going to knock it down.”

Interestingly enough, Sasaki seemed unfazed by how he pitched.

“At this stage of this year, it’s not quite all coming together,” he noted in Japanese. “I believe my control will improve over time.”

He chose to view his whole training experience positively, even after the rocky outing against the Diamondbacks. “Physically, I’m in much better shape than last year,” he remarked. “I feel like my pitching is progressing. Though, I think the game-day pressure got to me a bit.”

Timing, it seems, was also a factor—with the pitch clock playing a role in his rhythm.

Sasaki, who built his reputation on fastballs and forkballs during his time with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, has been trying to expand his skill set. He’s been incorporating a cutter and a slider, along with a sinker that moves in the opposite direction. During the game, he mixed in 11 cutters and even threw a sinker that hit 95.1 mph.

“It was an open game, so I threw what I wanted,” he explained.

In an attempt to minimize the impact of his performance, Sasaki highlighted that his forkball seemed to work well. He also reflected that he performed better out of the bullpen.

“In contrast, I felt my fastball was better in the bullpen sessions,” he stated.

The Dodgers seem a bit concerned about his past performances at the major league level. Most of the success he gained last season came unexpectedly when he took on the closing role.

Back in Japan, Sasaki had excellent control, but things changed when he arrived in the U.S. Issues with fastball control previously stemmed from a shoulder impingement that kept him off the field for four months. So, what does his outing against the Diamondbacks suggest? Maybe it was just the typical early spring jitters he hinted at.

His main focus remains on fastballs and forkballs. The new pitches are meant to provide variety, not intended as full replacements.

Roberts attributed Sasaki’s control issues to “the adrenaline of the first game,” but he wants to see growth over the exhibition season.

Sasaki, on the other hand, is optimistic about this. Last year, he faced only two exhibition games before the Dodgers’ season opener in Tokyo. This time, he’s looking forward to six exhibition outings.

“With only five games left, I think we can prepare well,” Sasaki said.

It appears the Dodgers will need to trust Sasaki is on the right track, with Roberts suggesting his place in the rotation remains secure.