Roki Sasaki’s arrival in Major League Baseball was marked by immense anticipation. Touted as a future ace for the Dodgers, the Japanese phenom entered the league with a dominant reputation. However, just weeks into his debut, concerns have emerged. Sasaki has now been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a shoulder impingement—an announcement that came ahead of the Dodgers’ 11-1 defeat to the Athletics.
The excitement around Sasaki’s potential quickly gave way to unease as his early performances fell short. His signature fastball, once clocking high 90s in Japan, has dropped to an average of 96 mph in MLB—and dipped as low as 92 mph. This noticeable decline didn’t escape fans and analysts, especially as his ERA climbed to 4.72 and his WHIP reached 1.485.
Veteran MLB figure Chipper Jones added fuel to the speculation with a candid comment, hinting at two possibilities: inflated radar readings during the World Baseball Classic or a possible injury. Not long after, news of Sasaki’s IL placement broke—making Jones’ theory seem less like speculation and more like foresight.
Off the field, whispers surfaced that Sasaki’s team had been inquiring about his velocity during the offseason—an unusual move for a player expected to dominate. Some analysts pointed to a reliance on his splitter, as hitters began to adjust to his less-threatening fastball. One commentator noted that Sasaki’s struggles are more severe than his stats suggest, calling his heater “extremely hittable.”
Despite the visible decline, Sasaki tried to tough it out. Reports suggest he played through discomfort for weeks out of a desire to help the injury-plagued Dodgers’ pitching staff. However, with his performance slipping and the pain persisting, the team has now opted for rest and recovery.
In the background of Sasaki’s IL move, the Dodgers recalled right-hander J.P. Feyereisen—an eyebrow-raising decision considering his own rocky season and recent demotion. The timing has led many to suspect a deeper recalibration of the pitching rotation is underway, one that quietly accounts for Sasaki’s uncertain status.
With Sasaki sidelined, the Dodgers will move forward with a rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Landon Knack, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Clayton Kershaw, who is set to return from his own IL stint.
Though Sasaki’s debut has not followed the hoped-for trajectory, the Dodgers appear to be managing his development carefully. Whether this injury is just a bump in the road or the beginning of a longer battle remains to be seen. For now, all eyes are on how both Sasaki and the team adjust in the weeks ahead.