Dodgers' Sasaki Working on 3rd Pitch to Find Success as Starter

The Japanese phenom is looking to add a third pitch to his repertoire after struggling as a starter in his rookie season.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Roki Sasaki, the Los Angeles Dodgers' highly touted Japanese pitching prospect, is working on adding a third pitch to his arsenal this spring training in an effort to find more success as a starting pitcher. Sasaki struggled in his rookie season, posting a 4.72 ERA and walking 14.3% of batters faced over 8 starts, before finding success as a dominant reliever late in the year. The Dodgers believe that if Sasaki can develop a reliable third pitch, in addition to his high-velocity fastball and splitter, it will make him a more effective starter and help him pitch deeper into games.

Why it matters

Sasaki's ability to develop into a successful starting pitcher is crucial for the Dodgers, who view him as a potential ace of their rotation. His struggles as a starter in his rookie season highlighted the need for him to expand his pitch repertoire in order to neutralize right-handed hitters. If Sasaki can find the right third pitch to complement his power arsenal, it could unlock his full potential and make him a dominant force in the Dodgers' rotation for years to come.

The details

Sasaki is currently experimenting with both a cutter and a slider as his potential third pitch, with a focus on developing a "gyro-spin slider" that breaks away from right-handed hitters. The Dodgers' coaching staff believes that adding this third pitch, along with improved health and mechanics, will allow Sasaki to have more success as a starter after he struggled with his command and saw a dip in velocity during his rookie season.

  • Sasaki struggled through 8 starts in his rookie season, posting a 4.72 ERA.
  • Sasaki spent 3 months on the injured list with a shoulder injury.
  • Sasaki emerged as a dominant reliever late in the season and during the playoffs.

The players

Roki Sasaki

A highly touted Japanese pitching prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers who struggled as a starter in his rookie season but found success as a dominant reliever.

Brandon Gomes

The general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is optimistic about Sasaki's potential if he can develop a reliable third pitch to complement his power arsenal.

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What they’re saying

“Just adding a repertoire is gonna be important against righties. The sliders that I threw last year weren't good. Results-wise, it wasn't good too.”

— Roki Sasaki (abc7.com)

“All of the stuff we've seen so far, he looks really, really good. I mean, the bullpens have been exceptional. The pitch movements he's throwing -- the cutter, sinker -- he's having an expanded arsenal. But if he's executing the fastball and split the way he's capable of, with what he's done in the past, it's an amazing foundation. And anything on top of that is just going to make things more challenging for the opposing hitters.”

— Brandon Gomes, General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers (abc7.com)

What’s next

The Dodgers will closely monitor Sasaki's progress with his new third pitch throughout spring training as he looks to solidify his spot in the starting rotation.

The takeaway

Sasaki's ability to develop a reliable third pitch will be crucial to his success as a starting pitcher in the major leagues. If he can complement his overpowering fastball and splitter with an effective breaking ball, it could unlock his full potential and make him a dominant force in the Dodgers' rotation for years to come.