Andrew Friedman Sends Message on Roki Sasaki’s Starting Role Amid Struggles

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dodgers’ spring has unfolded in low-key fashion—veterans easing into form, injured regulars progressing cautiously—yet one storyline has refused to fade: what to make of Roki Sasaki’s bid to stick as a big-league starter. On Tuesday, Los Angeles president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman ended any ambiguity, affirming that the 25-year-old right-hander will open 2026 in the rotation despite a rocky exhibition slate and a 13.50 ERA across 6.2 Cactus League innings.

Sasaki arrived last January carrying marquee billing out of Japan, but his rookie campaign never found traction. Velocity readings dipped below the triple-digit levels that once dazzled scouts, and shoulder soreness shelved him for months. He resurfaced as a reliever, riding a lethal fastball-splitter mix to earn de facto closer duties and help the Dodgers secure another World Series title. The bullpen experiment succeeded precisely because it masked the limitations of a two-pitch arsenal.

With a new season comes a new experiment: stretching Sasaki back into a starting capacity. The early returns have been uneven. While his fastball has sat a notch above last year’s diminished velocity, command has evaporated—10 strikeouts against 9 walks and 9 hits in just 6.2 frames. The stat line has lagged behind that of River Ryan and Kyle Hurt, two arms already trimmed from major-league camp, intensifying questions about whether Sasaki is rotation-ready.

Friedman, however, framed the situation as part of a broader organizational philosophy. Speaking with The Orange County Register, he noted:

“Roki is an extremely talented young starting pitcher and there is still development left—as there is with a lot of talented young players. For us, as we are trying to balance our roster looking into 2026 and beyond and we are trying to integrate talented young players onto our roster, we’re going to have to approach it with some patience and be really mindful of short-term and long-term goals. We’re going to have the same challenges with young position players and young pitchers. For us to maintain success as far as we can look out, it is imperative.”

Manager Dave Roberts has already penciled Sasaki into the season-opening rotation, and Friedman’s comments remove any lingering doubt that the front office will pull the plug early. The message is clear: the Dodgers will live with growing pains now in pursuit of what they hope will be a frontline starter for years to come. Whether Sasaki rewards that patience will be one of the most closely watched plots of the 2026 season.