Roki Sasaki makes impressive Spring debut, striking out 5 behind his comical splitter over 3 shutout innings – Dodgers Digest

The fervor over Roki Sasaki (combined with hate for the Dodgers) is such that social media had a field day with mere highlights from a live batting practice he threw last week. Well, today at least people got a chance to see him in an actual game for his Spring Training debut with the Dodgers against the Reds.

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Despite having some understandable early nerves, he also definitely impressed, sitting 97-99 mph with his fastball and delivering a bunch of absolutely unhittable splitters. He struck out five batters in three shutout innings, surrendering a double, single, walk, hitting a batter, and throwing one wild pitch.

Roki with 5 Ks in three shutout innings in his Cactus League debut! pic.twitter.com/yeYOJuuWKF

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 5, 2025

Hitters will tell you.

About as good an endorsement as you’ll get. https://t.co/sxtODK9nh8 pic.twitter.com/H5ffxi8VXQ

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 5, 2025

While there was some debate about his pitch classification, it seems like he only threw three breaking balls, all sliders.

Here’s an example of a couple fastballs…

…a whole bunch of nasty splitters…

…and all three sliders he threw.

The scouting report basically held up. It’s encouraging that he’s already flirting with 100 mph as it is, but hitters also got some quality swings against it, so shape and location will be important. The split looks like an untouchable option that should allow him to be effective now no matter what, while the spin is still a work in progress.

Hard to see this as anything but exciting and encouraging.

Kinda explains the two-direction action. https://t.co/ez08bUjKC9

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 5, 2025

Quick takeaways from Roki Sasaki’s data…

-Splitter is slower & has more drop than 2024 NPB. Down 3 mph, 5″ less vertical break

-Is it… 2 splits? 3″ horizontal mvmt difference between lefties & righties

–#Dodgers left his slider untouched from 2024 NPB data

— Lance Brozdowski (@LanceBroz) March 5, 2025

Good comparison of Roki Sasaki’s velocity from today.

He was averaging 95 and topped at 98 almost exactly a year ago. He sat 98 and topped at 99 today. https://t.co/gAuwH5o10G

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) March 5, 2025

I am ready.

How nasty is Roki Sasaki? Watch this video.

I overlayed his strikeout on the four-seam and the last strikeout on his splitter.

Notice how the pitches follow the same plane. The pause is where the fastball ends up — the balls are identical. Watch where the splitter ends up. pic.twitter.com/pB2KyZ69hE

— Jacob Brownson (@brownsonjacob2) March 5, 2025

“I did feel really good about being able to jam some hitters and as long as I throw quality pitches, I should be able to get these guys out.”

Roki Sasaki on how his stuff plays against big league hitters. pic.twitter.com/iHOY2iTXWY

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 5, 2025