You said I look like Skinny's? No. 1 pitcher to watch in spring camp, the scariest splitter on the planet

Feb 09, 2025

You said I look like Skinny's? No. 1 pitcher to watch in spring camp, the scariest splitter on the planet
LA Dodgers Rocky is holding a press conference to join the team at Dodger Stadium on the 23rd of last month (Korea time). Image caption AP Yonhap News



You said I look like Skinny's? No. 1 pitcher to watch in spring camp, the scariest splitter on the planet
Paul Skins of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who won the NL Rookie of the Year last year. AP Yonhap News
The opening of Major League Spring Training is imminent.

Starting with the Chicago Cubs convening a two-and-a-pointer in Mesa, Arizona on the 10th (Korea time), 30 clubs will raise the curtain on spring training all at once until the 14th. He will stretch vigorously toward the race in the 2025 season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, which will hold the opening series with the Cubs in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18-19, will enter the official schedule of the defending champion with two-pointers on the 12th and a call-up of fielders on the 16th. The Dodgers spring training camp at Glendale Camelback Ranch, Arizona, is always a hot topic.




Last year, Shohei Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million FA contract, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who joined after receiving the highest treatment as a pitcher for 12 years and $325 million through posting negotiations, heated up the Arizona camp. No matter what anyone says, the best issue of this spring training is fireballer Roki Sasaki from NPB.

Sasaki wore the Dodgers uniform through 40 days of posti negotiations this winter. More than 20 clubs made bids, and after selecting eight of them, Sasaki decided the Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays as the finalists and held the hands of the Dodgers after agonizing over the second round of antipathy. The Sining Bonus is $6.5 million for a minor league contract.

You said I look like Skinny's? No. 1 pitcher to watch in spring camp, the scariest splitter on the planet
The LA Dodgers have become so thick that they have to use Rocky Sasaki as the fifth starter. Photo = MLB Official X Account
The Dodgers, which succeeded in holding Sasaki in their arms after fierce competition, are expected to be able to properly set up a six-man rotation this year. It is obvious that all local media will gather in Camelback Ranch on the 12th. In the Dodgers, which are full of superstars, Sasaki will be in the spotlight, beating Ohtani, Yamamoto, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.




Ohtani will also receive extraordinary attention as he resumes his dual pitching job this year, but Sasaki's every move is certain to dominate the top spot in the Dodgers camp.

Sasaki was also mentioned first in an article titled 「12 pitchers must watch in this spring training」 published by MLB.com on the 9th.

Reporter David Adler, who wrote the article, said 'All eyes will be on Sasaki on the day he takes his first mound as a Dodgers player. He's probably the hottest high-profile prospect since Paul Skins (Pittsburgh Pirates) last year. These two players can be called the most talked-about prospects of all time. Sasaki's pitch is as dynamic as Skins. He complimented the pitcher by saying, "'Whatever team you are on, you must see in spring training with over 100 miles of fastballs and the best splitter on the planet that has been proven in Japan.'"




Skins, who was named NL Rookie of the Year last year, made his major league debut in May last year, less than a year after being drafted by Pittsburgh as the No. 1 overall pick in the first round of the draft in July 2023. He pitched 133 innings in 23 games, recording 11 wins and 3 losses with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts.

You said I look like Skinny's? No. 1 pitcher to watch in spring camp, the scariest splitter on the planet
Sasaki Rocky's fastball speed has decreased from 98.8 miles in 2023 to 96.7 miles last year. AP Yonhap News
Local experts see Sasaki as akin to Skins. However, as Sasaki's posting negotiations were nearing the end on January 16, ESPN reporter Kylie McDaniel said, `From a comprehensive pitch evaluation, Sasaki resembles Skins. However, Sasaki's command and the fourth and fifth pitches are areas to be solved compared to Skins' major league debut."

In other words, the speed of fastballs and the possibility of development are similar to those of Skins, but the ability to control and use breaking balls falls short of those of Skins.

Sasaki's fastball speed decreased significantly last year due to shoulder and abdominal muscle injuries at the Chiba Lotte Marines. According to FanGraphs, Sasaki's average fastball restraint declined from 98.8 miles in 2023 to 96.7 miles last year, and the splitter's swing-and-miss incentive ratio declined from 48% to 35%, respectively. In particular, his fastball speed is his spring training point.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.