First place for Rookie of the Year award? The reality is home runs + walks factory, Sasaki lost 100 miles, lost control of the ball, hit multiple home runs for the first time, and EAR 4.72↑

May 10, 2025

First place for Rookie of the Year award? The reality is home runs walks factory, Sasaki lost 100 miles, lost control of the ball, hit multiple home runs for the first time, and EAR 4.72↑
LA Dodgers Rocky took the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 10th (Korea time) and was replaced during the 5th inning and entered the dugout to put down his glove. Image Yonhap News



First place for Rookie of the Year award? The reality is home runs walks factory, Sasaki lost 100 miles, lost control of the ball, hit multiple home runs for the first time, and EAR 4.72↑
Shohei Otani roars after hitting a three-run, right-center, first and second base in the top of the ninth inning when the score was 11-11. AP Yonhap News
Loki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani, who became teammates with the LA Dodgers. Maybe Sasaki should thank Ohtani.

The Dodgers came from behind to win 14-11 thanks to Ohtani in the first of three consecutive away games against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on the 10th (Korea time).

The game, which continued to be a slugfest, turned around in the Dodgers' offense in the ninth inning.




Trailing 8-11, the Dodgers tied it at 11-11, adding three more runs on Andy Parz's left-handed double, Quique Hernandez's double on the left-field line and Max Muncy's right-handed hit. While Kim Hye-sung went to first base as Muncy's pinch runner, Ohtani turned the tide 14-11 by tapping pitcher Ryan Thompson, who changed to a superior three-run shot in the first and second bases with one out.

When Thompson's 4th 81.1 mile splitter fell toward his body at the ball count 1B2S, Ohtani kicked it as it was and crossed the right-center fence well. He hit his 12th homer of the season with a shooting angle of 26 degrees, a batting speed of 113 miles, and a flying distance of 426 feet. With this, Ohtani finally moved to a joint lead in both leagues in home runs, along with New York Yankees Aaron Judge, Seattle Mariners Carl Raleigh and Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber.

First place for Rookie of the Year award? The reality is home runs walks factory, Sasaki lost 100 miles, lost control of the ball, hit multiple home runs for the first time, and EAR 4.72↑
Loki Sasaki started against Arizona and pitches in the bottom of the second inning. AP Yonhap News
On the other hand, Japanese pitcher Sasaki expressed disappointment with his worst pitching since his Major League debut. This time, he collapsed after being hit with multiple home runs for the first time since his debut.




Sasaki gave up five hits and four outs in four innings, allowing five runs. Ohtani saved the game that Sasaki almost ruined. Even though the team's lineup scored eight points until the third inning, Sasaki couldn't even fill the fifth inning, let alone win a start.

With this, Sasaki's season record soared to 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA from 3.86 in eight games. Since his Major League debut, he has recorded the most runs and most home runs in one game.

Sasaki, who gave up a tie by allowing a superior solo home run to Ketel Marte after one out in the bottom of the first inning with a 1-0 lead, was hit by a two-run shot to right-center by Euhenio Suarez with two outs and a runner on second base, allowing the team to come from behind 1-3.




However, after balancing 3-3 with Hernandez's solo home run and Ohtani's timely double in the top of the second inning, the Dodgers took a big lead of 8-3 by combining four hits, three walks and five runs in the top of the third inning. Sasaki, who allowed one hit in the second inning and three outs in the third inning, gave up a left double to Suarez, the leader of the fourth inning, and allowed one run again by groundering Luerdes Gurriel Jr. to first base after one out.

And after walking Marte, the leadoff man in the fifth inning with an 8-4 lead, he was replaced by Anthony Banda. Banda was hit by a grand slam by Gurriel, and Sasaki's runner homered, and the game went back to square one 8-8.

First place for Rookie of the Year award? The reality is home runs walks factory, Sasaki lost 100 miles, lost control of the ball, hit multiple home runs for the first time, and EAR 4.72↑
LA Dodgers Roki Sasaki. AP Yonhap News
Sasaki joined the Dodgers through posting last winter after taking only 18 appearances with Chiba Lotte Marines last year due to shoulder and abdominal muscle injuries. Prior to the season, he was selected as the No. 1 candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year by leading local media, but when he opened the lid, the time to adapt to the major leagues is getting longer.

Above all, the fastball speed is not coming out as expected. His fastball speed of 22 out of 61 pitches was up to 97.5 miles and 94.8 miles on average. The average speed was 1.3 miles slower than the season's 96.1 miles. If your fastball is slow, your main weapon, a splitter, can easily get a sign. Of the 17 swings that were thrown, only three were whiffs. There was no swing or miss on the fastball.

Sasaki threw two fastballs over 100 miles against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 19. However, I have never taken a picture of 100 miles when I returned to the mainland of the United States. The top speed in the U.S. is only 98.3 miles.

There are many walks to say that he has reduced his speed to focus on his control. He allowed 22 walks and 24 strikeouts in 34 ⅓ innings so far. He hit six home runs. He allowed the most walks and home runs among Dodgers pitchers.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.