Roki Sasaki Injury
Roki Sasaki started the 2025 MLB season with big expectations, but things got rough fast. It was mid-May when he landed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. The Dodgers had been counting on him, but you could almost feel the energy fizzle out after manager Dave Roberts announced Sasaki would be missing time.
Stuff like this happens all the time for pitchers, but if you watched him early on, you saw he wasn't himself. Even before the official injury news, he had lost velocity and looked tense out there, not the lightning bolt we remember from his time in Japan.
Pretty recently, it seems rehab is finally moving in the right direction. Sasaki is pain-free now and throwing off a mound again.
A tweet by Dodger Blue shows that Roki Sasaki is pain-free
Roberts hinted he would be working simulated games soon, trying for a September return. A lot of fans are sharing updates and holding their breath for that first rehab assignment.
You can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the Dodgers pitching room, but honestly, this is all still a day-by-day deal. No guarantees.
What Happened to Roki Sasaki?
Nobody can accuse Roki of being soft. He pitched through a lot, even in his NPB days. But after a few rough outings in the Dodgers rotation and pain that wouldn’t go away, the trainers stepped in.
Turns out, shoulder impingement—one of those phrases that haunt pitchers—is nasty. Sasaki tried to push through, but after May 13, there was just no getting around it: the pain meant rest was unavoidable.
His transition to Major League Baseball hasn’t been the cakewalk everyone expected. He struggled with control, racked up more walks than you'd like, and the media started questioning if the pressure or rapid schedule was getting to him. Even in Japan, they talked about his mental toughness and how the tsunami that hit his hometown shaped his resolve, but MLB is a whole different thing.
A few tweets from folks at the ballpark pointed out teams started to swing earlier in counts, knowing he’d miss the zone sometimes. Sasaki admitted he needed to "fight for the opportunity" to get back on the mound.
When will Roki Sasaki Return - Latest Updates
This one’s still not set in stone. The most recent update says he’s planning to throw three simulated innings in a live batting practice scenario at Dodger Stadium this week. The Dodgers say if that goes well, he’ll begin a minor league rehab assignment.
That puts him on track for a September return—fingers crossed. Dave Roberts keeps saying Sasaki’s a starter in their eyes, not just a bullpen guy to eat innings, so whenever he’s back, expect the Dodgers to try slotting him back into the rotation. No one’s guaranteeing the exact date, but for now September’s the hope, and given where things were earlier this summer, that’s a win.
SportsNetLA Tweet gives an update on Roki Sasaki injury
Roki Sasaki Contract
Here’s something that got a lot of attention this winter: Sasaki didn’t get a massive blockbuster deal. Since he was under 25 when he signed, MLB rules only let him sign as an amateur international free agent, so he’s on a six-year club control contract with a rookie salary, plus a signing bonus that hit around $6.5 million.
Weirdly, that’s way less than what his talent would fetch if he were older. It’s super similar to what happened with Ohtani in 2017. For now, his 2025 base salary is about $760,000, with a slight bump next year. The dude’s betting on himself—delaying payday for the freedom (and riches) of MLB down the line.
Roki Sasaki Stats
The numbers? Not what you’d expect if you just saw his highlight reels from NPB. Through eight games before the injury, Sasaki went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA and 1.49 WHIP across 34.1 innings. He struck out 24, but the 22 walks show the growing pains.
Home runs weren’t the main issue, but command definitely was. He sometimes looked overpowering—then, suddenly, wild and almost guessing.
If you dig into his splits, his April was better than his March, but that’s mostly because he was adapting fast. He did manage a couple scoreless outings with high strikeout games—flashes of why the Dodgers put so much faith in him.
Still, if you asked fans back in January what they expected from him, it probably wasn’t a win-loss record this thin, with mixed outings scattered across his brief 2025 stat line.
Saw a great meme on Instagram, Dodgers fans posting baby photos with the caption: “Still waiting for Roki to grow into the show.” It’s harsh, but that’s baseball fans.
Roki Sasaki Age
Sasaki is 23 years old, turning 24 on November 3, 2025, which honestly puts everything in perspective.
