The Los Angeles Dodgers have seemingly been dealing with constant pitching injuries since last season.
From only having three starting pitchers ready for the World Series last year to the uncomfortably long list of pitchers on the injured list this year, things finally look to be turning around for LA.
As long-lost pitchers start to make their way back to the rubber, 23-year-old Roki Sasaki appears to be next in line as he will begin his rehab assignment in Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Roki Sasaki will start a rehab assignment on Thursday with Oklahoma City, per Dave Roberts.
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Sasaki made just eight starts to begin his MLB career before landing on the injured list with a shoulder impingement in May.
After throwing three simulated innings on Friday — a 45-pitch session with his fastball hovering around the 96-97 mph range — Sasaki spoke on feeling pain-free.
“I’m just really relieved that I’m pain-free,” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton.
“So I’m really taking this time to focus in on the delivery, and that’s something that I’m really excited to do.”
Manager Dave Roberts didn’t provide an accurate timeline, but spoke on the importance of competition in getting Sasaki back to the mound.
“As a starting pitcher, you’ve got to build up,” Roberts said.
“We want Roki to gain some confidence, some real confidence in taking down 22 hitters, 24 hitters, commanding the baseball.
“I really don’t know what that looks like. But what I do know is that we’ve got to get him back to pitching in games and competing, and then I think that in the coming weeks we’ll know more from there.”
Sasaki posted a 4.72 ERA through his 34.1 innings of big league work, but there is much to be desired from the right-hander. Through four seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, Sasaki boasted a 2.10 ERA across 394.2 innings.
His 505 strikeouts to 88 walks show the immense potential that he has, but the unflattering 24 strikeouts to 22 walks so far in MLB will hopefully improve with time as Sasaski works to get closer to familiar form.
