Roki Sasaki thrived whereas navigating an unfamiliar position on the postseason stage. Now a World Collection champion with a yr within the huge leagues below his belt, the 24-year-old goes again to what he is aware of: beginning pitching.
Sasaki’s shift to the ‘pen for the Dodgers’ championship run was predicated on his return to the rotation the next season. The success he loved because the crew’s postseason nearer — three saves and only one earned run allowed in 10 2/3 innings — didn’t change that.
“I feel for us, it was about attempting to get his supply again,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman mentioned after World Collection Recreation 7 in Toronto. “I really feel like we made quite a lot of progress on that. And so for us, we’re undoubtedly viewing him as a starter and a very good one, and we’ll proceed to work this offseason and put him in one of the best place to be prepared in Spring Coaching to assist us win once more.”
This is a have a look at the nice, the dangerous and the unknown from Sasaki’s stint within the ‘pen and what it’d imply for his return to beginning:
Encouraging signsPerhaps one of the best growth for Sasaki was the return of his velocity. Whereas he was within the rotation, Sasaki threw simply eight pitches that registered at 99 mph or quicker. From his first huge league aid look on Sept. 24 on, he threw 46 pitches 99 mph or quicker.
Not solely was he throwing more durable, however he was finding each his four-seamer and his nasty splitter. Sasaki had almost as many walks (22) as strikeouts (24) as a starter, however he was capable of minimize his stroll charge (14.3% to 10%) and lift his strikeout charge (15.6% to twenty%) in aid. Opposing hitters may not afford to sit down on the splitter when he was touchdown each of his pitches within the zone, resulting in a 51.3% whiff charge on the providing.
Sasaki’s general physique of labor as a reliever far more intently resembled the electrical arm that was extremely coveted when he was posted for Main League groups final offseason. He additionally pitched with the conviction that the Dodgers had been ready to see from him all yr lengthy, which bodes nicely heading into subsequent season.
Lingering concernsFrom a high-level view, there are largely positives to remove from Sasaki’s aid stint. However whilst he acquired the outcomes he wanted all through the postseason, there was a little bit of a dropoff along with his fastball.
After Sasaki averaged within the vary of 99-100 mph along with his four-seamer by way of the Nationwide League Division Collection, he threw it a tick slower through the NL Championship Collection and the World Collection, sitting simply over 98 mph in his last 5 outings. He additionally acquired multiple whiff on the fastball solely twice in 11 outings. General, he upped his fastball whiff charge (10.1% to twenty%) in contrast with when he was a starter.
It must be famous that the dropoff got here after Sasaki’s heaviest workload of the postseason, his three good innings on 36 pitches in NLDS Recreation 4. He had three days of relaxation in between then and NLCS Recreation 1, throughout which he averaged 98 mph on his fastball and allowed his solely run of the postseason.
To be determinedIn actuality, the unknowns would possibly outnumber the knowns. The conditions and workloads of the rotation and the bullpen are so totally different that another components is perhaps equally essential to Sasaki.
Sasaki might be working with an expanded arsenal. Whereas he was rehabbing his shoulder, he labored on a cutter, which he threw throughout his Minor League rehab task however not in any Main League video games. He additionally ditched his slider after getting back from damage.
Having a full offseason as a Dodger may also be useful for Sasaki, who signed with the crew this previous January. Whereas he solely had just a few weeks to work with the group this yr earlier than Spring Coaching started, he’ll have months to arrange this time round.
Crucial takeaway from his stint in aid is that the electrical stuff continues to be in there. It is only a matter of unlocking it.
