Feb 25, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) during workouts at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

mlb

When is Roki Sasaki making his spring training debut? Latest update on Dodgers’ rookie

Roki Sasaki will pitch out of the bullpen!

Feb 25, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) during workouts at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

With a recent few days filled with star debuts, including Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, one of the most anticipated belongs to Roki Sasaki. The Dodgers’ prized offseason acquisition from Japan now has an official date for his first appearance in spring training.

Roki Sasaki is just days away from his spring training debut

According to manager Dave Roberts, Sasaki is set to take the mound in the Cactus League next Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds. However, he won’t be starting the game. Instead, Sasaki will follow fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is expected to throw around four innings before handing things off.

JUST IN: Roki Sasaki will make his #SpringTraining debut on Tuesday, per @Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. pic.twitter.com/keP1Z9YgZS
— MLB (@MLB) February 28, 2025

Roberts mentioned that the plan is for Sasaki to enter the game at a predetermined point and pitch at least three innings, with the possibility of stretching to a fourth.

This setup could serve as a preview for what’s to come next month when the Dodgers open their season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series (March 18-19). Yamamoto is expected to start the opener, with Sasaki likely taking the mound in Game 2.

Liking what you see from Roki Sasaki, @Dodgers fans? 👀 pic.twitter.com/U4uCoJXciS
— MLB (@MLB) February 17, 2025

Sasaki recently completed a 30-pitch bullpen session, and if he can gradually increase his workload over the next few outings, he should be prepared to pitch deep into that second game in Tokyo.

ALSO READ: Will the Yankees’ left field crisis force them to look to their past?

Across four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki compiled a 29-15 record with a 2.10 ERA, racking up 505 strikeouts in 394 2/3 innings. His transition to Major League Baseball is one of the biggest storylines of the season, and fans won’t have to wait much longer to see him in action.

Dodgers

Roki Sasaki

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.