WATCH: Roki Sasaki picks up 5 strikeouts in DOMINATING Spring Training debut with LA Dodgers

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki made his Spring Training debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night and threw three scoreless innings.

WATCH: Roki Sasaki picks up 5 strikeouts in DOMINATING Spring Training debut with LA Dodgers

Roki Sasaki picked up 5 strikeouts in 3 scoreless innings (Image via MLB/X)

On Tuesday, Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki finally donned the blue jersey of the Los Angeles Dodgers and took to the mound for his spring training debut. In his first-ever appearance against an MLB side, the pitcher dominated the game and picked up 5 strikeouts.

Sasaki was one of the most sought out free agents this offseason. After making his intentions clear of trying to leave the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) of Japan and trying out MLB, several big teams started chasing him.

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Sasaki eventually joined the Dodgers and became the latest Japanese pitcher to join the National League side. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old came into the game against the Cincinnati Reds after Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw out four innings.

In his first outing against MLB hitters, Sasaki brought out the heat. His very first pitch was a 99.2 mph four-seam. He would pick up 2 strikeouts in his first inning as he escaped a jam in the fifth inning of the match.

The right-hander wrapped up his night while pitching 3 scoreless innings and picking up 5 strikeouts. He threw 46 pitches, out of which 26 were strikes. He allowed just two hits and walked one batter while averaging 98 mph on his four-seamer, 85.8 mph on his splitter, and 83.3 mph on his slider.

With Roki Sasaki’s impressive Spring Training performance, the odds for the Dodgers Season Propsare beginning to capture the interest of sports enthusiasts and analysts as the season approaches.

The Dodgers eventually turned the game around and won the match 4-2. However, the biggest talking point for them in this game is Sasaki’s performance.

The pitcher’s next Spring Training appearance is expected to take place on next Tuesday. Along with Yamamoto, he is expected to start the Japan Series in his home country against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19.

Dave Roberts impressed by Roki Sasaki’s Spring Training debut

On Tuesday night, the spotlight was firmly on Roki Sasaki as the pitcher made his Spring Training debut. He lived up to the hype and expectations as he delivered three scoreless innings and managed to snag 5 strikeouts in his first outing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His manager, Dave Roberts, was impressed by his performance.

Dave Roberts and Roki Sasaki
Dave Roberts and Roki Sasaki (Image via Imago/X)

The one thing that caught the eye of the Dodgers manager is Sasaki’s fastball. While speaking with the reporters later on, Roberts claimed that this was the best they had seen from him so far in the Spring Training.

That’s the best we’ve seen him. And you would expect that, given he’s now really in compete mode, the adrenaline is real. We haven’t seen 99 all spring.

Dave Roberts said as per MLB.com

In the 18 games he played last year in the NPB, Sasaki picked up 128 strikeouts while pitching with an ERA of 2.35. The Dodgers would be hoping he can replicate the same type of numbers this year as they look to go back-to-back and win the World Series again.