Roki Sasaki Faces Crucial Year with Dodgers: A Developing Talent Under Pressure to Adapt

TORONTO, CANADA – Amid the Los Angeles Dodgers’ recent championship dominance, highlighted by their back-to-back World Series wins in 2024 and 2025, one of their more intriguing acquisitions is the Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. After a tumultuous debut season, the 23-year-old pitcher has now become a critical piece of their bullpen, but his journey with the Dodgers hasn’t come without friction. As the team gears up for a third consecutive championship push, Sasaki finds himself facing mounting pressure to adjust, both in his role and his pitching repertoire.

The Dodgers’ Investment in Sasaki: From International Hopes to On-Field Struggles

The Dodgers were quick to pay top dollar for established stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow to bolster their already loaded roster. After acquiring high-priced All-Stars like Blake Snell and Tanner Scott, the team secured their second straight World Series championship in 2025. Yet, not all of their acquisitions have followed the traditional route. Roki Sasaki, a young and highly touted pitcher, was brought into the fold under the constraints of international signing restrictions, limiting the financial flexibility of his deal but still offering immense upside for the team.

Sasaki’s debut season in 2025 was marked by ups and downs, with the young talent struggling to find his rhythm early on. However, his redemption came late in the season, as he emerged as a key contributor out of the bullpen, particularly with a fastball that gained velocity and effectiveness. Despite his success, Sasaki’s personal interpretation of how his resurgence came to be has raised some eyebrows within the organization.

The Clash of Perspectives: Sasaki’s Independence and Team Dynamics

According to Dylan Hernandez of the New York Post, the Dodgers have encountered difficulties when trying to reach Sasaki, who is known for his strong-willed and independent nature. While the team scrambled to attribute credit to their coaching staff for helping him rediscover his fastball velocity, Sasaki offered a different story. The pitcher stated that he discovered the issues with his delivery by reviewing old footage of himself, which led to his self-initiated improvement.

This divergence in perspectives has created tension, especially as Sasaki prepares for what the Dodgers hope will be a successful second season in 2026. Despite his late-season resurgence, Sasaki is eager to return to his original role as a starter, but that ambition seems to conflict with the Dodgers’ broader plans.

Manager Dave Roberts’ Approach: Development with a Warning

Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, has expressed his awareness of Sasaki’s potential and the need to strike a balance between nurturing his talent and pushing him toward improvement. The most pressing issue? Sasaki’s lack of a third pitch. Roberts was blunt in his assessment: “He needs to develop a third pitch. It’s going to need to be something that goes left.”

Roberts also made it clear that Sasaki would be given the opportunity to return to the rotation in 2026, but his success in that role depends heavily on his ability to add another offering to his arsenal. The Dodgers’ skipper remains confident that Sasaki will come to understand the need for this development, with a pointed remark: “I like the phrase, ‘The game tells you.’”

This philosophy reflects Roberts’ belief that, as Sasaki continues to develop, the challenges of pitching in the major leagues will force him to adapt and evolve. The question remains whether the Dodgers can push Sasaki to meet that challenge.

Sasaki Skips World Baseball Classic to Focus on Development

In preparation for his sophomore season in the MLB, Sasaki has opted to skip the 2026 World Baseball Classic to focus on refining his skills. After a disappointing 2025 season, this decision allows him valuable time to add a third pitch and refine his overall game in hopes of securing a permanent spot in the rotation.

The World Baseball Classic often serves as a proving ground for international players, but for Sasaki, the MLB is the stage where he needs to solidify his role and prove that he can be a consistent and effective starter. By opting out of the tournament, Sasaki shows his commitment to making that leap.

The Dodgers’ Future with Sasaki: High Stakes for 2026

For the Dodgers, Roki Sasaki represents both an investment in potential and a challenge of patience. With Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker added to the roster to bolster their championship run, Sasaki’s success could be the difference between another championship and a missed opportunity. The Dodgers are known for their aggressive pursuit of talent, but the team’s ability to develop Sasaki into a reliable starter is one of the most crucial narratives heading into the 2026 season.

As Sasaki works to add that third pitch, the Dodgers‘ eyes will be on him, hoping that the young pitcher can evolve into the star they envisioned when they brought him into the fold. The pressure is on, but so is the potential for greatness. With the team’s focus on World Series glory, Sasaki’s development could be the final piece that makes their rotation one of the best in baseball.

This version provides a comprehensive look at Roki Sasaki‘s journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers, focusing on his struggles, the internal team dynamics, and the pressure he faces to develop further as a pitcher. The piece also highlights Dave Roberts‘ strategy and Sasaki’s commitment to improvement in the face of expectations, offering insight into the future of the young star in 2026.