The ‘Monster of Reiwa‘ is finally back on the mound. Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki missed three months with a shoulder injury before being cleared to return on August 15. Fans were eager to see the phenom they had been promised, with expectations sky-high after all the hype. Instead, reality hit hard.
In a minor league rehab start, Sasaki lasted just two innings instead of the planned three, giving up three runs on six hits with no strikeouts and one walk. His trademark fastball—once electric—is now averaging only around 90 mph. This rookie season was supposed to be a fairy tale. Coming over from Japan, Sasaki was already a household name, famous for throwing a 19-strikeout perfect game with the Chiba Lotte Marines. The Dodgers landed him with a modest $6.5 million signing bonus—a bargain for a talent of his caliber. Like fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Sasaki was expected to make an immediate impact.
But even before the injury, he was struggling to meet the hype. His 4.72 ERA was disappointing for a top prospect, and the real concern was command. Through his early outings, he had nearly as many walks (22) as strikeouts (24)—the opposite of ace-level production.
After another rough showing, many fans began to accept that this season may not hold much promise. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi put it into perspective: “With respect to Roki, you’ve got to remember how young he still is. At the time he signed, it wasn’t with the expectation he’d be as good as Yamamoto in year one, or even Ohtani on the mound for the Angels in year one. He was always a work in progress, even back then.” Those words stung.
“Roki Sasaki is a prospect… he needs additional seasoning as opposed to merely a tune-up.”@jonmorosi on Roki Sasaki after his first rehab start. pic.twitter.com/0UM9ni5NLo
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 15, 2025
Morosi didn’t stop there. He further added, “Roki Sasaki is a prospect. He is a prospect who is trying to get outs and have success at the Major League level. Clearly, he’s not quite there yet. He needs additional seasoning as opposed to merely a tune-up.” And one can’t argue with Morosi as he is realistic after all. Morosi then explained why a 2025 return is so unlikely.
He pointed to the Dodgers’ loaded six-man rotation. “Emmett Sheehan has come back and has pitched very well,” he noted. “I’m not sure whose spot he would take from this group of six.” He also shot down the idea of a bullpen role due to Sasaki’s control problems. “I think it’s going to be an uphill climb… for him to make the Dodgers’ postseason roster.” His final verdict was clear and direct.
While the press is reporting what they see, the view from inside the Dodgers’ clubhouse is just a different picture
Patience from the Dodgers Dugout
Manager Dave Roberts isn’t panicking. Before Sasaki’s rehab start, he set expectations clearly: “(We are) waiting for him to get to a point where he feels really comfortable and confident in his delivery and where he’s at, so he can attack the hitters, (make that) his focus. We’re not there yet. But I thought for a three-inning situation, it was solid.” Still, Roberts made no guarantees about Sasaki’s role in October. “We’re gonna take the 13 best pitchers [into the playoffs]. If Roki is a part of that in some capacity, then that would be great. And if he’s not, then he won’t be.”
Looking at the Dodgers’ roster, patience seems like the only option. The rotation is stacked with arms—Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, and Blake Snell give L.A. a loaded front four. With a team ERA of 4.17, the Dodgers need reliability, not projects. And the bullpen isn’t a fallback for Sasaki either. Relievers need precise command and the ability to escape jams—two things Sasaki hasn’t shown.
There’s simply no room for a rookie to iron out his mechanics in the middle of a pennant race. The Dodgers, now locked in a tight NL West battle, have lost their division lead and sit just one game back of the San Diego Padres at 68-53. In that kind of chase, every inning matters—and L.A. can’t afford to treat Sasaki’s development as a playoff experiment.
The post Dodgers Fans Receive Stark Message After Turning On Rising Rookie Following Latest Failure appeared first on EssentiallySports.