Was it a rare bubble! 164km → 151km drop! The heat is devastating.. The best has been reduced to a regular pitcher in MLB

Aug 15, 2025

Was it a rare bubble! 164km → 151km drop! The heat is devastating.. The best has been reduced to a regular pitcher in MLB
Sasaki (right) laughs in the dugout with Ohtani (center).AP Yonhap News



Japan's best pitcher, Loki Sasaki (LA Dodgers), has become a regular pitcher in the Major League.

Sasaki, who was injured early in the season, made a minor league rehabilitation appearance on the 15th (Korea time). Along with the sharp drop in his ball control and weaknesses in checking runners, he revealed one after another.

Sasaki started against Triple-A Albuquerque at Bricktown Ballpark in Chicaso, Oklahoma City.




Sasaki was sluggish in two innings with six hits and three runs.

Japanese media were also disappointed. The full count was ' unstable in control and allowed three stolen bases. Although he is predicting the possibility of returning to the Major League, he evaluated that it was the mound that exposed the task.

MLB.COM said `Sasaki struggled in his first real game since May 10th. Sasaki is recovering from right shoulder impingement syndrome'




Above all, the speed dropped sharply. Sasaki boasted tremendous power, recording a maximum of 164 kilometers in his Japanese professional baseball career. If you mix and throw a 150-kilometer fork ball with a fastball that is usually close to 160 kilometers long, the batter was helpless.

The Los Angeles Dodgers recruited Sasaki ahead of this season. Sasaki injured his shoulder while performing an ordinary record of 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in 34 ⅓ innings in eight games in the Major League. He took the mound for the first time in about three months.

MLB.COM posted 'Sasaki threw 41 pitches to catch six out-counts. In the bottom of the third inning, he failed to get the two batters out. He expressed regret, saying, 'I couldn't even record a strikeout.'"




Was it a rare bubble! 164km → 151km drop! The heat is devastating.. The best has been reduced to a regular pitcher in MLB
Aug 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Was it a rare bubble! 164km → 151km drop! The heat is devastating.. The best has been reduced to a regular pitcher in MLB
Aug 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The average speed of Sasaki's fastball was 93.6 miles (about 151 km). The top speed was 95.7 miles (154 kilometers). He recorded a maximum of 97 miles (156 kilometers) in a three-inning simulation game last week. The Dodgers originally expected Sasaki to throw three innings. Sasaki said, "We need to increase the number of pitches to 75 pitches in five innings to be able to join the Dodgers in late August or early September."

The Dodgers are not in a hurry to Sasaki right away. MLB.COM said 'Sasaki improved the pitching mechanism and practiced two-seam fastballs. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it was important for Sasaki to build confidence. The Dodgers currently have a relatively healthy starting lineup. Sasaki said it could be an additional insurance policy.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.