GLENDALE, Ariz. — It did not take lengthy for White Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel to see one thing he favored from Dodgers righty Roki Sasaki.
With Sasaki going through White Sox hitters in what was described as a “hybrid B-game” on Tuesday morning, Teel was the primary to step in in opposition to the extremely regarded starter from Japan — and he left the yard on the second pitch he noticed.
The booming blast to proper marked an inauspicious begin to Sasaki’s outing, though the remainder of his three simulated innings went far more easily.
It was a matchup between two of MLB Pipeline’s High 100 prospects, as Sasaki is ranked No. 1 total and Teel is No. 32. Each got here to their respective organizations this offseason. Sasaki signed with the Dodgers after being posted by his NPB workforce, the Chiba Lotte Marines, and Teel was a part of the White Sox return from the Crimson Sox within the blockbuster deal for Garrett Crochet.
After surrendering the homer to Teel, Sasaki induced a number of grounders that probably would have gone for outs had there been fielders. He punctuated the top of his first inning along with his solely swinging strikeout of the day.
“He is been a star since he was 16 years outdated,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “He most likely hasn’t received hit quite a bit, however I do suppose that a few of these guys that I’ve seen which have been actually good, elite pitchers — once they get hit within the mouth, they reply again. He does not run from competitors, and that is a part of his pedigree.”
After a three-up, three-down second, Sasaki appeared to lose some steam within the third inning, bookending a well-struck drive from White Sox prospect Tim Elko with a pair of walks to finish his outing.
“It is thrilling for these guys to compete in opposition to Sasaki and the opposite pitchers right this moment,” White Sox director of participant growth Paul Janish stated. “Fairly cool to be a part of the primary time [Sasaki] confronted opposing hitters. We’re hopeful each of these guys give themselves an opportunity to play within the Main Leagues this season.”
It was the second time Sasaki confronted dwell hitters this spring. He additionally threw dwell batting observe in opposition to his Dodgers teammates final week in entrance of a big crowd of gamers, front-office members and followers.
The Dodgers are ready to see how Sasaki builds up in Spring Coaching earlier than penciling him in to start out on his house soil. Like with Yamamoto final spring, the workforce desires to assist Sasaki ease in and alter to life within the massive leagues, with the added problem of engaging in that in a shortened spring.
“I feel our very first thing is identical factor we did with Yamamoto final 12 months,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior stated Sunday, “simply making an attempt to get him acclimated to, one, the U.S. fashion of baseball and practices and conferences and various things. … These first couple weeks is basically each of us making an attempt to get to know one another, after which attempt to progress from there. Get him dialed in with some issues that he desires to work on.”
Teel, 23, reached Triple-A final 12 months, his first full skilled season since being chosen 14th total within the 2023 MLB Draft. He slashed .288/.386/.433 over 505 plate appearances cut up between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester and may have an opportunity to catch on with the massive league membership this season.
Elko, 26, shouldn’t be ranked on MLB Pipeline’s High 100 record, however he must also have an opportunity to succeed in the Majors this 12 months. He has massive energy and homered in his first sport of spring on Saturday.
The pool of White Sox hitters who confronted Sasaki additionally included Jacob Gonzalez, Elko, Wilfred Veras, Tristan Grey and Andre Lipcius.
The extra Sasaki sees of stateside competitors in any setting, the extra the Dodgers have an concept of the place he’s in his growth as he prepares to pitch within the massive leagues.
“I feel that that is form of the place we anticipated him to be,” Roberts stated. “[In] his phrases, he is not a completed product. We really feel the identical manner. … Simply seeing how his pitch combine performs in opposition to Main League hitters, that is going to maintain including confidence for him.”
