: Interestingly, analysts at Dodgers Nation have noted that despite his velocity sitting around 97.4 mph, his four-seamer has occasionally looked "flat," leading to more hard contact than expected [13]. The Evolution of the Arsenal
But as the 2026 season unfolds, we’re seeing that even for a "monster," the transition to American ball isn't always a straight line. A Rocky Road in Blue : Interestingly, analysts at Dodgers Nation have noted
To survive in MLB, Sasaki is already making adjustments. Dodgers manager has publicly challenged him to develop a third pitch —a challenge Sasaki seems to be taking to heart with the integration of a new cutter/slider hybrid [6, 13, 14]. Pitch Type Observation Fastball Dodgers manager has publicly challenged him to develop
The "work in progress" that could define his success as a starter [13, 14]. Why We Should Still Be All In He recently secured his first win of the
Despite the early "growing pains," the underlying metrics show a pitcher with a massive ceiling. He recently secured his first win of the 2026 season against the Cubs, showing he can battle through tough situations [13, 18].