Roki Sasaki showcased his talent in his Los Angeles Dodgers spring training debut, firing 99-mph fastballs while mixing in splitters and sliders to keep the Cincinnati Reds off balance in Phoenix.
The highly anticipated Japanese pitcher, who joined the Dodgers in January, delivered an impressive performance, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out five over three scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 4-2 win at Camelback Ranch.
“It was a mix of excitement and nerves, but once I stepped on the mound, I was able to focus and pitch,” Sasaki told reporters.
The 23-year-old right-hander threw 46 pitches, with 26 landing for strikes.
“It was great,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “We were all eager to see how he handled his emotions under the lights in his first big league game, and I thought he was fantastic.”
Fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a $235 million contract with the Dodgers in 2023, started the game. He allowed four hits and two runs over four innings.Sasaki took the mound in the fifth with the Dodgers trailing 2-1. His first MLB pitch was a 99.2-mph fastball to Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte, resulting in a groundout. He followed with another 99-mph fastball against Austin Wynns, who later singled to right field. Sasaki then hit Stuart Fairchild with a 96.9-mph fastball but rebounded by striking out T.J. Friedl and Matt McLain with splitters to end the inning unscathed.
In the sixth, Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz led off with a double off a 97.7-mph fastball. Sasaki responded by striking out Austin Hays and inducing a flyout from Jake Fraley. After walking Christian Encarnacion-Strand, he retired Marte on a flyout to escape the inning.
Sasaki wrapped up his outing in the seventh, striking out Wynns and Carlos Jorge while forcing Hector Rodriguez to ground out. Jose E. Hernandez took over in the eighth.
In the bottom half, Jake Vogel tied the game with an RBI single, and Austin Gauthier put the Dodgers ahead with another RBI hit. Catcher Hunter Feduccia added the final run with an RBI groundout.
Vogel finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run, while De La Cruz went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run for the Reds.