98.6 mph on the radar gun. Three strikeouts.
And still, it felt uneven.
Roki Sasaki’s first Cactus League start of 2026 delivered heat — but not harmony.
💥 BREAKING NEWS: Roki Sasaki Hits 98.6 MPH but Battles Command in Spring Debut ⚡
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Roki Sasaki took the mound Wednesday with growing expectations and a clear objective: prove he belongs in the Dodgers’ starting rotation for good.
Instead, his spring debut delivered a mixed message.
The 24-year-old right-hander allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in just over one inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Of his 36 pitches, only 17 found the strike zone.
The velocity? Electric.
The command? Elusive.
The Radar Gun Was Loud
Sasaki’s fastball topped out at 98.6 mph, confirming that his arm strength remains elite. He struck out three hitters, flashing the kind of overpowering stuff that made him a high-leverage weapon late last season.
But when he missed, he missed big.
Geraldo Perdomo opened the game with a sharp single. Tim Tawa worked a walk. Nolan Arenado followed with a line-drive double that plated the first run. Ildemaro Vargas added another double, driving in two more and putting Los Angeles in a quick 3–0 deficit.
That’s the margin in the majors — especially in the desert air.
Overthrowing or Overthinking?
Pitching coach Mark Prior made a mound visit as things began to unravel. Sasaki responded with strikeouts of Jordan Lawlar and Ryan Waldschmidt to limit further damage.
There were flashes.
But not flow.
“In the bullpen, I felt pretty good about the forkball,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “But once I got on the mound, it didn’t go well. And the four-seam felt a little off.”
Manager Dave Roberts offered a telling observation.
“I thought he was overthrowing,” Roberts said. “He was a little too bullish on the fastball. It was good to see that second inning — he mixed better and commanded it better.”
That comment may be the key.
Velocity wasn’t the problem.
Tempo and trust were.
The Rotation Stakes
Sasaki enters 2026 with momentum. Last postseason, he allowed just one run over 10.2 innings, thriving under October pressure and proving he can handle high-leverage moments.
But the jump from bullpen weapon to full-time starter requires something different:
- Consistent strike throwing
- Efficient sequencing
- Trust in secondary pitches
Over the offseason, Sasaki worked to develop a third pitch — a slider-cutter hybrid designed to complement his fastball and devastating splitter.
That pitch may determine his role.
If it clicks, he’s a multi-dimensional starter.
If not, the bullpen remains an option.
Encouraging Signs — With Caveats
In the second inning, Sasaki opened by striking out Druw Jones before issuing a walk to Aramis Garcia. Shortly after, his outing concluded.
The final line wasn’t dominant.
But it wasn’t catastrophic either.
Spring training is about refinement, not final verdicts.
Two other Dodgers pitchers also debuted. River Ryan delivered a scoreless third inning, and Edwin Díaz followed with a clean fourth aside from a single.
Still, Sasaki drew the brightest spotlight — and the loudest scrutiny.
The Bigger Picture
The tools are undeniable.
98.6 mph fastball.
Swing-and-miss splitter.
Emerging third pitch.
What remains is command under repetition.
February struggles don’t define April rotations. But for a pitcher seeking permanence in a loaded Dodgers staff, every outing shapes perception.
The radar gun flashed elite potential.
The strike zone reminded him there’s still work to do.
There’s time.
But if Sasaki wants that permanent spot, the next step isn’t throwing harder.
It’s throwing smarter.
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