Roki Sasaki isn’t just arriving in Major League Baseball—he’s storming in with no leash. The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t sign Japan’s most electrifying young pitcher just to shelter him. Unlike most international rookies with strict inning caps, especially those transitioning from Nippon Professional Baseball, Sasaki will step into the spotlight immediately. Apparently, the Dodgers will give him full freedom to dominate.

ESPN’s insider Alden Gonzalez confirmed the team’s aggressive approach: Though they’ll monitor his workload, he won’t be shackled by hard innings caps or rigid pitch counts. Instead, the Dodgers will use their depth and a six-man rotation to ensure sustainability without holding him back. Now, the excitement is about how major league hitters handle his devastating splitter.

A different kind of Rookie: Sasaki’s unconventional path in the Dodgers

According to Gabe Smallson of the Los Angeles Dodgers on SI, Sasaki’s journey to MLB was anything but conventional. Unlike fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a record-breaking $325 million deal, Sasaki’s contract was limited to just $760,000 due to international signing rules. But money was never the priority. His agent, Joel Wolfe, made that clear.

“Roki is by no means a finished product. He knows it and the teams know it,” Wolfe said, adding, “But he is a guy that wants to be great. He’s not coming here to be rich or to get a huge contract. He wants to be one of the greatest ever.” That mindset made Los Angeles the perfect fit; the Dodgers’ ability to refine elite pitching talent—from Walker Buehler to Tyler Glasnow—gives Sasaki the best chance to maximize his immense potential.

Armed with a 102-mph fastball and a devastating splitter, Sasaki dominated in Japan, posting a 2.02 ERA over four seasons. He demonstrates advanced control for his age, and his pure stuff ranks among the best in the world. Now, MLB hitters must adjust to the most unhittable pitch in Japan: his absurdly sharp splitter. Scouts compare Sasaki’s arsenal to a blend of Jacob deGrom’s velocity and Kevin Gausman’s splitter. Hitters in spring training will be the first to face it, but that’s not the real test!

It will commence in Tokyo when Sasaki debuts against the Cubs in the Dodgers’ season opener. If the Dodgers’ pitching lab can refine his mechanics while maintaining his electric stuff, Sasaki won’t just be a Rookie of the Year candidate—he might be baseball’s next dominant ace. And by giving him full freedom to develop, Los Angeles has made one thing clear: They trust him to live up to the hype.

All eyes on Tokyo: Sasaki’s first big test

Sasaki’s MLB debut is set to take place in Tokyo at the start of the Dodgers 2025 season, against the Chicago Cubs in a two-game series at the Tokyo Dome stadium—a moment for him returning to Japan as an MLB pitcher amid expectations from fans in both America and Japan. But the opportunity is immense—his first start will offer an early glimpse of how his elite velocity and splitter translate against major-league hitters.

Roki Sasaki’s move to Major League Baseball presents an opportunity for him to demonstrate his skills against top-notch batters worldwide; however, it requires some tweaks in his game plan. While his impressive fastball and splitter duo has shown success in the NPB, his strikeout rate has dropped significantly (from 13.4 strikes per nine innings in 2023 to 10.5 in 2024) along with a decrease in fastball velocity (from 98.8 miles per hour to 96 miles per hour).

However, the Dodgers’ deep rotation allows him to ease into a full MLB season while refining his command and pitch movement. If he delivers, it will warn the rest of the league that Sasaki is ready to challenge baseball’s best from day one. Do you think Sasaki’s talent will translate instantly, or will MLB hitters force an adjustment?