The Dodgers Were Basically Done for Until This One Pitcher’s Brilliant Role Change
A month ago, Roki Sasaki wasn’t expected to play a major role in October. He was still recovering from shoulder issues and inconsistent Triple-A outings, and was excluded from the Dodgers’ postseason plans. The club, with a solid starting rotation and a shaky bullpen, was still weighing how Sasaki could contribute while monitoring his rehab progress for a potential role change.
Then came the bold idea to move him to relief. It seemed like a stopgap measure at first, but within weeks, Sasaki went from injured starter to postseason closer.
A Rookie with a Rough Start
When Sasaki arrived in Los Angeles in January 2025, expectations were sky-high. He had been a sensation in Japan, famous for near-perfect games and a fastball that once hit 102 mph. But his first months in Major League Baseball were brutal. His velocity dropped into the mid-90s, his command fell apart, and his once-devastating splitter lost its bite. Over eight starts, Sasaki posted a 4.72 ERA, with 24 strikeouts and 22 walks.
By early May, a shoulder impingement forced him to the injured list. Even when healthy enough to throw again, his delivery looked off-balance and stiff. The Dodgers tried everything, including mechanical tweaks, rehab assignments, and strength training, but nothing stuck. By late summer, Sasaki was an afterthought in a team fighting to keep its head afloat in the playoff race.
A Conversation That Changed Everything
Early in September, after months of frustration, Sasaki finally showed signs of life in a Triple-A start. His fastball touched 100 mph again, and his splitter darted late in the zone. The performance caught the attention of Dodgers executives Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes. They met with Sasaki and proposed moving him to the bullpen for the rest of the season. It was not a demotion, they said, but a strategic move to help both him and the team.
Sasaki hesitated at first. After all, he had spent his entire career as a starter, but the opportunity to pitch in October was too meaningful to ignore. He agreed, on the condition that he could return to starting next season.
Fixing the Mechanics That Held Him Back
Image via Getty Images/Matt Brown
Before the bullpen experiment began, Sasaki worked with Dodgers pitching director Rob Hill to review hours of old footage. They compared his high school delivery with his current one and spotted the problem immediately: his lower body had stopped driving the motion. Years of throwing through pain had made his mechanics rigid and inefficient.
Together, they rebuilt his motion to restore balance and explosiveness. He practiced in front of mirrors, replayed clips, and even threw dry reps in his hotel room until he felt himself regaining his footing.
Not long after, during a bullpen session in Arizona, everything came together, and his velocity jumped. Eventually, the athlete’s command also sharpened, and his body finally moved in sync. It was the version of Sasaki the Dodgers thought they were signing—powerful, precise, and confident.