Earlier this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were preparing for starting pitcher Roki Sasaki to be out for the remainder of the year.

The Dodgers placed the right-handed rookie on the injured list with a shoulder impingement after just eight starts. Los Angeles transferred Sasaki to the 60-day IL on June 20, but have since received positive updates on the 23-year-old’s recovery.

“Roki’s doing well. He worked over the All-Star break,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday to the Orange County Register. “Everything I hear has been positive. So hopefully we can keep building him up and face some hitters, and get him out there competing again.”

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Los Angeles initially paused Sasaki’s throwing progression in mid-June. However, he has resumed his throwing bullpen sessions and has reportedly reached up to 90 mph in those sessions.

The Dodgers are now expecting Sasaki to return in late August.

Sasaki was one of the most popular free agents on the market this offseason. The Japanese native ultimately decided to begin his MLB career with the Dodgers and received a $6.5 million signing bonus with his contract.

Sasaki struggled in his first MLB start, posting a 4.72 ERA while allowing 29 hits and 18 runs in 34.1 innings. The Dodgers were hopeful he would find his groove but then Sasaki sustained the shoulder injury and has been sidelined ever since.

In addition to Sasaki, the signing of starting pitcher Blake Snell has not played out how the Dodgers would have hoped. Snell, who is a two-time Cy Young award winner, signed a five-year, $182 million contract with Los Angeles. 

Snell only made two starts before landing on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. The 2018 American League All-Star holds a 2.00 ERA and four strikeouts in nine innings this season.

Snell is taking steps toward a return at the end of the month and made his second rehab start on Tuesday. He made another rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing one earned run on four hits with six strikeouts.

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Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

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