Roki Sasaki’s rough spring training debut invokes concern for Dodgers

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The spring buzz surrounding Roki Sasaki evaporated in a 36-pitch blur Wednesday, when the 23-year-old right-hander was tagged for three runs, three hits and two walks while recording only four outs in his Cactus League debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Sasaki, whom the Dodgers have touted all camp as a budding rotation anchor, threw just 17 strikes in 36 attempts, surrendered back-to-back doubles to the first five batters and never reached the second inning. His fastball touched 98.6 mph but lacked life; two of the hits he allowed left the bat at 105 mph.

“I thought he was overthrowing,” manager Dave Roberts said after Los Angeles’ 10-7 victory, which kept the club undefeated at 5-0 this spring. “I haven’t seen that all spring.”

Roberts, effusive about Sasaki’s bullpen work only hours earlier, stopped short of alarm, attributing the outing to adrenaline. Still, he emphasized that a starting job is not guaranteed. Sasaki, limited to 36.2 innings last season by a shoulder impingement, finished the year in the bullpen and saved three postseason games, but he has made only eight career big-league starts.

Scouts seated behind the plate questioned the pitcher’s composure. “He looked scared to death,” one evaluator said, citing slumped shoulders and hesitant body language.

Sasaki acknowledged the disconnect between his bullpen and game execution. “In the bullpen I felt pretty good about the forkball,” he said through an interpreter, “but once I got on the mound it didn’t go well.” He threw seven sliders—his nascent third pitch—among 36 offerings, a ratio Roberts indicated must rise if Sasaki wants to crack a rotation fronted by Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Opening day is four weeks away. Sasaki, who opted to remain in Dodgers camp rather than pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, must now compress his development timetable. Roberts’ mandate is clear: command three pitches or start the season elsewhere.

For now, the club will settle for small victories. “I was able to finish my outing,” Sasaki said, “without getting hurt.”