Rōki Sasaki Has a Shoulder Problem, and the More Pessimistic Dodgers Fans Are Starting to Tremble
When the Los Angeles Dodgers made their aggressive push for Japanese stars this past offseason, Rōki Sasaki wasn’t among the names making headlines—at least not yet. The 22-year-old phenom from the Chiba Lotte Marines, widely regarded as one of the most electrifying pitching talents in the world, has long been expected to make the jump to Major League Baseball, perhaps as early as this winter. But now, a shadow of uncertainty looms: Sasaki has a shoulder issue.
On the surface, it may seem minor. Reports from Japan indicate the injury isn’t considered season-ending, and there’s no immediate plan for surgery. But when a young pitcher, especially one known for throwing 100+ mph heaters with video game-like movement, begins experiencing shoulder discomfort, red flags go up—especially for MLB teams already keeping tabs on him.
Among those most invested are fans of the Dodgers.
L.A. has already demonstrated its intent to be the primary destination for elite Japanese talent. They landed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offseason, spending over $1 billion in the process. The connection to Sasaki, who has trained with Yamamoto and has expressed admiration for Ohtani’s path, only adds fuel to the speculation that the Dodgers are the favorites to land him when he’s posted.
But for some Dodgers fans, particularly the more pessimistic ones—or perhaps just the realists—the recent shoulder news has triggered flashbacks and anxieties.
It’s not hard to see why.
The Dodgers have a complicated history with prized pitchers and injuries. Dustin May, Walker Buehler, and Tony Gonsolin have all dealt with major setbacks in recent years. Even Yamamoto, the $325 million man, has had a rocky start to his MLB career, flashing brilliance but also inconsistency and some questions about his stamina. Now, the idea of adding another hard-throwing arm with potential medical baggage is unsettling, even if Sasaki’s upside is undeniable.
Sasaki’s raw talent is staggering. He threw a perfect game in 2022 with 19 strikeouts and followed it up in his next start with eight more perfect innings and 14 Ks before being pulled. His fastball regularly touches 101 mph, and his splitter is a wipeout pitch that some scouts compare to the best in MLB history. He’s often been likened to a right-handed version of Ohtani on the mound—high praise, and not without justification.
But none of that brilliance matters if health issues become chronic. The shoulder is especially concerning. It’s one thing to manage elbow soreness; it’s another to navigate shoulder troubles, which are notoriously harder to diagnose, treat, and recover from. If Sasaki is beginning to feel the wear and tear of his high-effort delivery and blistering velocity, it could be the start of a troubling trend rather than a one-off.
That’s what has some Dodgers fans wringing their hands.
After all, the Dodgers’ recent strategy has been to consolidate elite talent—often with some injury risk—into a superteam capable of withstanding the rigors of a 162-game season and a deep playoff run. But that approach only works if those players are available in October. For Sasaki, who might not even arrive until 2026 if he chooses to stay in NPB another year, the risk now feels more immediate. If the shoulder issue lingers or worsens, his availability and effectiveness in MLB could be compromised from the start.
Of course, it’s also possible this is just a blip—a minor inflammation, the kind every pitcher experiences over a long season. There’s no definitive reason to believe Sasaki’s long-term trajectory has been derailed. And the Dodgers’ front office, as cautious as it is calculating, surely won’t make any moves without rigorous medical vetting. The same fans who are sweating now may be celebrating come spring if Sasaki dons Dodger blue.
Still, in a season where the Dodgers are already grappling with rotation instability and another batch of high expectations, the mere suggestion that their presumed future ace might be dealing with a shoulder issue is enough to stir unease. For fans who’ve seen this movie before, the alarm bells aren’t so easily ignored.
Until more clarity emerges from Japan, all the Dodgers—and their fans—can do is wait, hope, and perhaps temper their dreams just a little. Because with Rōki Sasaki, the sky’s the limit—but only if his shoulder can hold it up.
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