UPDATE: On June 15th, OC Register’s Bill Plunkett reported that Sasaki had stopped his throwing program and could be done for the year.
UPDATE: Sasaki has been placed on the injured list (IL)
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers provided an update on rookie phenom Roki Sasaki’s arm injury. Sasaki is dealing with arm soreness and the Dodgers are discussing about a potential IL placement.
This could be a brutal development for the Dodgers, who are notorious for their pitching injuries. Here’s a list of every big league pitcher for Los Angeles currently on the IL: Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Gavin Stone, Blake Treinen, Emmet Sheehan, Michael Grove, Michael Kopech, River Ryan, and most ironically, Kyle Hurt. Oh, and that Shohei Ohtani guy isn’t pitching. That could be an entire MLB rotation and most of a bullpen. Now it seems Sasaki may join the list.
The pieces are starting to fit together in a fashion that is concerning for Sasaki. He threw as hard as 102 MPH on his fastball in Japan last year; that number is down to 94 MPH.
Having identical mechanics and this sharp of a decrease in fastball velocity, followed by a report of arm soreness, screams two deadly words: Tommy John. All too often, young pitchers that throw hard follow this pattern: decrease in fastball velocity, arm soreness, IL stint, and Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers hope rest and rehabilitation can turn things around for their newest pitching acquisition. But everyone will be nervous until more news comes out.
