Roki Sasaki dominated the headlines when he picked the Los Angeles Dodgers over several other teams in the MLB. The Japanese star was hyped as one of the best pitchers to enter the big leagues, and the Dodgers believed they were fortunate to get hold of the pitcher.
Known as “The Monster of the Reiwa Era,” Sasaki was nothing but hype. His MLB debut was a disaster, and he continued to fail to adjust in the league. Despite several outings, Roki Sasaki had something missing. Hitters went deep against him multiple times, and the Dodgers put him on the IL.
Many believed that Roki Sasaki was struggling due to an impingement in his right shoulder, which resulted in his poor performance. While he has recovered and is continuing his rehab process, the pitcher has been a huge disappointment to the franchise.
The Dodgers didn’t pay much for Sasaki as he signed a $6.5 million minor league contract with the team. He will receive the minimum rookie salary of $760,000 in 2025. However, Sasaki failed to live up to his name. The pitcher recorded a poor 4.72 ERA with a 1-1 record. In 34-plus innings, he recorded 24 Ks.
Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Is Not Pleased With Roki Sasaki
Dave Roberts seemed to be disappointed with Roki Sasaki. At one point, he mentioned that the team should move on. Yet, when he started his Triple-A rehab, many anticipated a strong comeback. Sadly, things are falling apart as Roki Sasak struggles to perform in the minors.
“I am surprised. Because the talent level is certainly there. The performance, the stuff hasn’t been there. I think there needs to be a tick up in stuff. And also against Triple-A hitters, you would expect more,” Dave Roberts said about Roki Sasaki via Dodgers Nation.
“I guess the bar is high right now, because we’re in a pennant race. So to warrant pitching on our staff right now, there’s got to be urgency on his part and really dominant performance. That’s the level of where we’re at right now. That’s why, personally, I feel confident in speaking of certain expectations for Roki,” Roberts continued.
While Roberts is certainly confident, it doesn’t seem to be wise to allow Roki Sasaki back on the mound. The Dodgers are currently entering the playoffs, and it’s hard to take a risk on Sasaki.
The post “Would Expect More” – Dave Roberts Voices Disappointment As Roki Sasaki’s Return Remains Uncertain originally published on Total Pro Sports.