The Roki Sasaki Redemption: Shoulder Setbacks and Mechanical Overhaul Forge Dodgers’ Unexpected Postseason Weapon.vc

LOS ANGELES, CA – The journey of Roki Sasaki in his rookie 2025 season was anything but linear. What began with immense hype quickly devolved into struggle, a painful shoulder injury, and a complete mechanical overhaul. Yet, Sasaki emerged from that fire as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ unexpected postseason weapon, setting the stage for a stunning return to the rotation in 2026 alongside Japanese countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and General Manager Brandon Gomes have both confirmed that Sasaki will “absolutely” rejoin the starting rotation for the 2026 season as the Dodgers begin their quest to defend back-to-back World Series crowns.

A Shaky Debut and the Hidden Injury

Sasaki’s first impression in MLB was underwhelming. Across eight starts, the 23-year-old phenom posted a 4.72 ERA, plagued by command issues and what was later revealed to be an early attempt to compensate for an oblique injury. This led to a right shoulder impingement, sidelining him in May.

While on the Injured List, the Dodgers’ pitching infrastructure, known for its “do not touch” approach with veteran players, patiently worked with Sasaki to reform his throwing motion and address the mechanical flaws that had crept into his delivery. As Friedman noted, the long-term goal was always to secure him as a starter.

The Postseason Redemption: Bullpen Heroics

The true turning point came in September when, needing bullpen reinforcements, Manager Dave Roberts deployed Sasaki in relief. The role change was a revelation.

Sasaki transformed into the Dodgers’ de facto closer during the 2025 postseason. His lights-out performance included:

• Dominance: A minuscule 0.84 ERA across nine appearances.
• Clutch Performance: Earning three saves and displaying overwhelming stuff, including a splitter that devastated opposing hitters in high-leverage situations.

His success as a reliever—a role he had never previously embraced—served as a massive confidence boost, with teammate David Price noting that getting a “taste of the playoffs at such a young age” was a huge factor in his development.

Setting the Stage for the 2026 Rotation

Despite his bullpen heroics, the Dodgers are firm: Sasaki will compete for a permanent spot in a stacked 2026 rotation that already includes World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the newly returned Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow.

Sasaki’s successful mechanical overhaul and his newfound confidence from the pressure of closing games mean the Dodgers are adding a fully optimized, battle-tested arm to the starting five. This unprecedented collection of Japanese pitching talent—Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki—will anchor a rotation aiming for a historic three-peat, making the Dodgers’ 2026 rotation arguably the deepest and most talented in recent baseball history.