In the hyper-competitive world of Major League Baseball, debuts are rarely easy. But when you’re Roki Sasaki, Japan’s pitching prodigy, making your first MLB start in Tokyo, the pressure is cranked up to eleven. The 2025 MLB season began with a bang in Tokyo, and it was the Dodgers who came out on top, sweeping a two-game series against the Cubs. The center of attention for the second game, on March 19, was the debut of Roki Sasaki.
Though the Dodgers went on to win 6-3, Sasaki’s performance was a mixed bag. He pitched three innings, allowing one run on one hit. But the five walks and 25 strikes among his 56 pitches told the story of undeniable talent tussling with nerves and control. The Chicago Cubs manager, Craig Counsell, a veteran tactician, took a deeper view of Sasaki’s debut.
“I thought we did a pretty good job … we did put pressure on him that we needed to, but he made pitches, especially in the 3rd inning,” Counsell said. It was an acknowledgment that the Cubs did challenge Sasaki, forcing him and making him work, but ultimately, the young pitcher found a way to squeeze himself out of the biggest jam.
“I thought we did a pretty good job … we did put pressure on him that we needed to, but he made pitches especially in the 3rd inning.”
Craig Counsell on facing Roki Sasaki in his MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/GjGiIpMtKV
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 19, 2025
Sasaki’s first inning was magic top, with three straight 100-mph fastballs and a perfect frame. The second inning saw the first cracks, with two walks, though he escaped unscathed. But the third inning was the crucible. Sasaki allowed a single, then three consecutive walks, forcing in a run. It was here, bases loaded, that Counsell saw both the pressure applied and the pitcher’s resilience. Sasaki, facing the brink, struck out the next two batters, limiting the damage and showing the stuff that made him a star.
This is a developing story…
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