Roki Sasaki, the highly-touted rookie pitcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been in the spotlight ever since his signing with the defending champions. However, his first start at home against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday has ignited a firestorm of criticism, most notably from retired MLB catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who took to social media to call out the young pitcher for showing emotion following his struggles on the mound.<\/p>
Sasaki, who made his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, has faced a rocky start to his MLB career. In his most recent outing, he allowed four walks in just 1.2 innings, contributing to a disappointing 5.79 ERA across his first two games. His performance, particularly his inability to find control, left many questioning his readiness for the pressures of big league baseball. However, it wasn’t just the lack of control that had people talking about him. After being pulled from the game, Sasaki was visibly emotional in the Dodgers’ dugout. Cameras caught him seemingly struggling to hold back tears, a moment that caught the attention of both fans and former players alike.<\/p>
Lucroy, who spent over a decade behind the plate in the majors, wasted no time in airing his thoughts. In a post on X, Lucroy wrote, “He’s soft. I’ve seen it before. The only thing that will help him is to fail. Massively. He will either peter out, or transform into a hardened warrior. That will be his choice. Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time situations.”<\/em> The comment sparked immediate controversy, with many finding the harsh critique of Sasaki’s emotional response unwarranted.<\/p>