Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki made an impressive spring training debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 4, 2025, against the Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix. The 23-year-old right-hander delivered three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five batters.

Sasaki entered the game in the fifth inning, following starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had pitched four innings of two-run ball. Sasaki’s fastball consistently reached the upper 90s, topping out at 99.3 mph, and he effectively utilized his splitter and slider to keep Reds hitters off balance.

In his first inning of work, Sasaki faced Noelvi Marte, inducing a groundout on a 99.2-mph fastball. After allowing a single to Austin Wynns and hitting Stuart Fairchild with a pitch, he struck out T.J. Friedl and Matt McLain to escape the jam.

Sasaki’s performance drew praise from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who noted, “It was great. It was just one of those things where we were all kind of waiting to see how he managed his emotions under the lights in his first big league game. I thought he was fantastic.”

Sasaki’s journey to the Dodgers began in January 2025, when he signed a minor league contract that included a $6.5 million signing bonus. Despite being considered an international amateur free agent under MLB rules, Sasaki chose to join the Dodgers rather than waiting two more years for potential free agency, which could have yielded a more lucrative contract.

Sasaki is one of three Japanese players on the Dodgers roster, joining fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and National League MVP Shohei Ohtani. The trio is expected to play pivotal roles in the Dodgers’ quest to defend their World Series title in the upcoming season.

Looking ahead, Sasaki is slated to pitch in the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs, with his next potential spring outing scheduled a week before the series.

Sasaki’s debut has generated significant excitement among Dodgers fans and baseball enthusiasts alike, as they anticipate the impact he will have on the team’s pitching rotation in the 2025 season.