Roki Sasaki’s rude awakening at Dodgers spring training is proof he’s a work in progress
Not the best start for the new Dodgers ace.
It was another productive offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who continue to outspend the rest of the league without even the slightest hint of reservation. A year removed from handing out over $1 billion in guaranteed money, the Dodgers inked Blake Snell, Teoscar Hernandez, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates to market-price contracts.
Perhaps their most consequential addition, however, was the one that didn’t cost much at all. Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese phenom, was signed as a “prospect” and paid a modest sum from the Dodgers’ international bonus pool money. His minor-leauge contract came with a $6.5 million signing bonus, and Sasaki must accrue six years of MLB experience before becoming eligible for free agency.
It may end up being the heist of the century. Sasaki arrives on U.S. soil hailed as arguably the best pitching prospect on the globe. He is ranked No. 1 on MLB Pipeline, but figures to shed his prospect label rather quickly in favor of a substantial role with the big-league team. The Dodgers can afford patience due to their overwhelming depth, but the expectation has long been that Sasaki would render an immediate impact out of the gate.
That said, it’s always wise to temper your expectations with young, unproven pitchers — even those with Sasaki’s raw talent and sterling overseas track record. The MLB is a steep adjustment, and if Sasaki’s first MLB AB is any indication, he needs patience just like anybody else.
