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Dodgers Reveal What’s Next for Shohei Ohtani’s Struggling Teammate Roki Sasaki

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Tristan Afshar | Last updated May 13, 2025 8:16 PM ET

When the Dodgers landed Japanese star Rōki Sasaki in the offseason, expectations skyrocketed. The 23-year-old came with electric velocity, a dominant track record in Nippon Professional Baseball, and a $6.5 million signing bonus. Paired with Shohei Ohtani, Sasaki was expected to become a cornerstone of L.A.’s pitching future.

But eight starts into his MLB career, things haven’t gone according to plan.

Sasaki currently holds a 4.72 ERA with 22 walks—an alarming stat line for a pitcher whose success relies heavily on command and velocity. And while the Dodgers have remained outwardly supportive, behind the scenes, adjustments are already underway in Los Angeles.

Mark Prior says the Dodgers are reworking their approach with Sasaki

“We go back to the drawing board every week with him,” pitching coach Mark Prior told the Los Angeles Times. “We try to talk to him about some certain things, some ideas. But ultimately, he’s working through his process, and we’re just trying to support him with everything we can.”

One issue has stood out: his fastball velocity. Sasaki touched 100 mph during the team’s season opener in Japan but has since dropped into the low 90s—a major concern for someone whose fastball doesn’t feature much natural deception.

Rōki Sasaki, 102mph Fastball vs. 94mph Fastball, Mechanics pic.twitter.com/AAJC2ChWfG
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 10, 2025

Still, according to The Athletic, there have been no discussions about sending Sasaki to the minors. The Dodgers are staying patient—for now.

As one of the faces of a new era alongside Shohei Ohtani, Sasaki still has time to find his footing. But how long that leash lasts in a championship-or-bust season remains to be seen.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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