PHOENIX — Dodgers Pitcher Roki Sasaki’s Transformation

When Dodgers strength coach Travis Smith began working with Roki Sasaki last season, he quickly discovered the talented pitcher had a unique preference for his gym environment. “He doesn’t like loud music,” Smith chuckled during a recent interview.

To make Sasaki more comfortable in this new setting, Smith created a personalized playlist for their training sessions. “I played some Bounty and Mr. Children,” he explained, mentioning Japanese pop artists he learned about from fellow players Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. “Oh, and Justin Bieber—he wanted some of that as well,” Smith added with a laugh.

Over the past year and a half, this mix of J-POP and pop has been the backdrop for Sasaki’s impressive evolution.

Currently, Sasaki, at 24, is experiencing significant growth as an MLB starter, which is supported by a new training regimen.

Growth and Development

“He’s grown a lot,” remarked manager Dave Roberts, referencing a recent game where Sasaki struck out seven players against the Phillies. He concluded May with a solid 3.18 ERA and seemed to rediscover the incredible speed of his 100-mph fastball for the first time this season. Roberts noted, “He’s much more physical, just by looks.”

When Sasaki first joined the Dodgers, he was recognized for his incredible arm talent but needed a better physical fitness foundation. Despite having the speed in his right arm since his teenage years, he faced challenges last year as injuries caused his velocity to drop.

“He’s a very collaborative person,” Smith recalled. “But his limiting factor was strength.” So, the team crafted a tailored workout program alongside his unique music playlist for the new player.

“When he first came, he showed us, ‘This is my program, this is what I’ve been doing,'” Smith noted. However, the shift towards a program that specifically met Sasaki’s needs made a significant impact. “A lot of strength programs are very formulaic. They’re not tailored enough. We had the ability to customize, and that made a big difference,” he said.

Sasaki was initially quiet and reserved. “It took time for him to realize that adding weight didn’t necessarily mean pain,” Smith explained, as he aimed to ease the pitcher into more advanced training techniques.

Interestingly, Sasaki spent four months on the disabled list last year, which turned out to be a hidden advantage. During this period, Smith devised a comprehensive offseason workout plan focusing on everything from lower body strength to shoulder stabilization.

The key, Smith emphasized, was consistency. “He had to embrace the process and do it regularly. Understanding how this helps with performance was crucial.”

Recent Achievements

Sasaki’s return to the team as a postseason closer last October showcased the results of their hard work. His fastball reached 100 mph, and he regained his confidence on the mound.

This season, his collaboration with the strength staff has become even more fluid.

While Sasaki’s listed weight is 187 pounds, Smith mentioned he’s closer to 205. “He’s been spending a lot of time with Travis, working on rebuilding his body and strength,” said pitching coach Mark Pryor, noting that the benefits are becoming evident.

Initially, Sasaki faced difficulties with pitch mechanics earlier this season, leading to inconsistencies. However, gradually, his pitching technique is returning to form. He started mixing in new sliders and splitters to keep hitters guessing.

Recently, he registered a fastball reaching 100 mph against Kyle Schwarber, with a season-best average speed of 98.5 mph. Afterwards, he expressed surprise at the sudden uptick in velocity. “I made some adjustments last week and saw improvements, but I didn’t anticipate the speed increase to be so rapid,” Sasaki said in Japanese.

The Dodgers feel that these developments reflect the hard work happening behind the scenes. Now, with enhanced strength, Sasaki can better harness his power.

“He has the fundamentals now, and he knows how to utilize them,” Smith concluded.

Roberts added, “He’s in a solid position. He doesn’t chase speed—it comes naturally.”

While Sasaki shows promise, he still has room to grow, carrying an ERA of 4.59 this season. His journey continues as he sticks with his music playlist during workouts.

“He’s returning to his old self and seems more relaxed than before,” Smith observed.