The Los Angeles are off to an incredible start to 2025 as they are 5-0 with multiple victories on two continents.
One of the very few negative aspects of this young season is the names that many around the baseball world touted as generational talent. At just 23 years old, Sasaki Roki has undergone a bit of adjustment to MLB.
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It’s as high as the ceiling of the phenome, so there’s nothing wrong with not being there yet.
In fact, given his age, there was no early struggle from Sasaki, and if he made his second MLB start and first in North America on Saturday, that would be even more surprising.
The right-hander only lasted 1.2 innings, allowing two runs, three hits and four walks on 61 pitch.
Manager Dave Roberts quietly spoke with the rookie in this latest chapter in his baseball life about how he still adapts to the influx of new variables.
“Loki, throughout his entire career, he was a commander. He was a man. He fills the strike zone,” Roberts said. “I think there are some new environments where he is now. He wants to be impressed. He wants to pitch a lot. He’s competing.
In a kind of fanfare, Sasaki received his first interest in coming to the majors this offseason – the pressure that comes with joining the defending champion – there’s not much way to mentally prepare this weight as he stepped onto the mound.
“From the start, we’ve always said that we believe this is a process,” Roberts said. “He is the first young player to dig into major league baseball, and we continue to get better, get back to work and prepare for his start in Philadelphia.
I hope that Roberts’ collected nature will spread to Sasaki as his first two starts are less than ideal, but there is even more for the right-hander to get on the right track.
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Photo credit: Jonathan Hui-Immagn Image
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