Roki Sasaki Dodgers Debut: Top Prospect Gives Up Homer To Kyle Teel
Image credit: Roki Sasaki (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
While Roki Sasaki’s long-awaited U.S. professional debut in an official game remains on the horizon, his recent spring training work in Camelback Ranch’s backfields has offered a glimpse into the potential that made the Japanese righthander the most coveted talent on the international market.
Sasaki pitched in a “hybrid” B-game against White Sox minor leaguers on Tuesday, tossing 38 pitches and putting his four-pitch mix on display. His fastball sat between 94 and 96 mph. According to scouting reports, the No. 1 prospect has the ability to reach 96-100 mph and has even hit 102 mph.
The 6-foot-4, 202-pound Sasaki also deployed an 84 mph curveball and a slider that floated in the mid 70s. He also used his splitter, arguably his most effective secondary pitch.
Sasaki had previously pitched live batting practice against his teammates last week.
“I wasn’t nervous,” Sasaki said through an interpreter according to MLB.com after his outing. “But facing hitters for the first time using a major league ball,and pitching in a game environment for the first time in a while, I was just sort of feeling out how it would go, getting used to being back in the flow of a game.”
Sasaki’s outing started shaky, as his second pitch was crushed by White Sox No. 4 prospect Kyle Teel over the right field fence. Teel said after the game he was waiting on a fastball, and that’s exactly what he got when he pounced on the pitch.
“He hides [his release point] well,” said Teel, who joined the White Sox in December via the trade that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox. “But just sticking to my approach and trying to see the ball all the way to the zone is what I was trying to do.”
Despite the initial setback, Sasaki settled in through three innings, retiring six consecutive batters before ending with a walk, a double and another walk to close his outing. His performance showcased flashes of brilliance and overcoming early challenges.
