The search has come to an end.
Loki Sasaki has decided to stop looking for his former self, Sasaki Loki.
This past Saturday marked a turning point for Sasaki, as he took the mound anew, signaling that the Aki Sasaki we once admired a few years ago seems to be gone for good, perhaps even permanently.
For those who saw him dominate the Japanese League at 20 or 21, his performance during the Dodgers’ 12-4 win against the Chicago Cubs inevitably stirred up feelings of nostalgia mixed with sadness.
It was as though a dream faded before our eyes.
Instead of the pitcher once poised to become Japan’s first Cy Young Award winner—armed with a blazing 100 mph fastball and a killer forkball—we’re witnessing a more pragmatic version of Sasaki. The 24-year-old has had to adapt, letting go of his most potent pitches in a bid to secure his place within the Dodgers’ rotation.
As his fastball’s speed and precision waned, he began experimenting with new strategies to gain an edge. This latest outing featured a harder version of what used to be his signature forkball. The classic slower forkball—a low-rotation pitch with unpredictable movement akin to a knuckleball—seemed to be a thing of the past.
Despite these adjustments, he managed to pitch over five innings, snagging his first win of the season, but it wasn’t quite the Aki Sasaki of old.
Interestingly, this transformation can be seen as a positive step. Sasaki approached the game with clarity, but that sometimes made him resistant to the Dodgers’ insights. Manager Dave Roberts viewed these changes as an indication of Sasaki’s maturity. There’s something to be said about evolving into a more adaptable player.
Roberts noted, “When you have a player you’re still getting to know, it’s essential to build trust while also encouraging their growth. Our coaching staff has been effective in that regard. I’m not trying to impose anything, but he seems more receptive now.”
“Making adjustments mid-season and changing fundamental pitch types is a big leap for him,” Roberts added, recognizing the shift in Sasaki’s approach.
In this recent game, Sasaki allowed three home runs across five innings, giving up four runs and seven hits—but he didn’t walk a single batter until the sixth. Roberts considered this start to be Sasaki’s best this season.
The shift in his strategy was significant: nearly half of Sasaki’s 99 pitches were splitters, thrown with an average speed of about 90.8 mph—almost 6 mph faster than in his previous outings.
He reflected, “I think my biggest issue isn’t the fastball, but rather how many forkballs I’ve thrown out of the zone.”
While he managed to control his splitter better, it lacked the previous lethality. For instance, in the third inning with a runner on second, he threw a splitter to Michael Busch, allowing a one-run hit. Although using the splitter enhanced the effectiveness of his fastball, he couldn’t convert the speed or movement of a four-seamer to strike out batters. Aiming at Seiya Suzuki, he threw three splitters in a row, but Suzuki sent one over the left-field wall. The same happened with a five-inning fastball against Miguel Amaya.
He didn’t surpass 98.5 mph with any of his pitches.
But what other options did he have? His newly added slider also got hit, allowing Moisés Ballesteros to clear the fence.
Sasaki expressed happiness about finally securing a win, though he acknowledged feeling supported by his teammates.
Regarding the standing ovation he received after being replaced by Jack Dryer in the sixth inning, Sasaki remarked, “Sure, I gave up four runs today, and the batting lineup and relievers helped out. But seeing the fans cheering like that really motivated me for my next opportunity.”
He didn’t try to deny the reality of his situation; maintaining a 6.35 ERA is tough.
When asked if he’d ever pitch like he did in Japan again, Sasaki responded, “The way I throw evolves from year to year, and even day to day. My priority now is improving my pitching quality. If I can do that, I’ll see how batters respond. I need to focus on elevating my game.”
He didn’t directly answer the question, but, honestly, what mattered most was evident in the game he just played.
