Spanish
LOS ANGELES. – Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki continues to progress in his rehabilitation process and is nearing his expected return to the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, following a right shoulder injury that has kept him out of action since May.
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Sasaki, 23 years old, was optimistic after a recent bullpen session at Dodger Stadium, where he reported being "pain-free." The right-hander, considered one of the Dodgers' main acquisitions in the past offseason, explained that he is currently focused on refining his pitching mechanics. "I feel pretty good. Right now I'm just working on the mechanical part of the game," declared the Japanese. The next step for Sasaki will be a simulated three-inning session this Friday, also at Dodger Stadium. If he overcomes that challenge without setbacks, he would begin a formal rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues. "We're going to try to get him to five or six innings and we'll go from there," said manager Dave Roberts, who made it clear that the organization still considers Sasaki a starter, ruling out a role as a long reliever upon his return. Sasaki, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 20th, had a complicated start to the season in MLB. In eight starts, he recorded an ERA of 4.72 with a WHIP of 1.49, in addition to 24 strikeouts and 22 walks, figures below expectations after his dominant performance in the NPB in Japan. The pitcher himself admitted that adapting to Major League Baseball has been a challenge. "American hitters have different approaches, I can't attack them the same way as in Japan. I'm trying to have more variety in how I face them," he explained. One of the key adjustments has been to incorporate a two-seam fastball into his arsenal, inspired by his compatriot Shohei Ohtani. Sasaki already had a four-seam fastball, a splitter, and a slider. Roberts also highlighted the importance of this forced pause as an opportunity for growth: "I hope to see him attack the zone, have conviction in his pitches, and better performance. That he has learned from the first month of this season." Sasaki's return could add to a Dodgers rotation that recently got Blake Snell back and currently has six starters, including Emmet Sheehan. The situation remains open to define Sasaki's role in the coming days.
