Preparing for spring training! Roki Sasaki shares a “fireball” training video aiming to return to the Dodgers’ starting rotation

With the MLB spring training pitchers and catchers reporting day (February 13) drawing near, Dodgers’ Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is already in training mode. On February 9 (Beijing time), he shared a personal training clip on Instagram, featuring his powerful throws and sharp catching sounds, raising fans’ hopes for this 24-year-old’s revival in the new season.

In this brief clip lasting about three seconds, Sasaki stands on the bullpen mound and throws a strong fastball to the catcher in a crouched position. The crisp, loud ball hitting the mitt echoes across the training field, indicating his form is well-tuned. According to Dodgers beat reporter Adrian Medina of The Sporting Tribune, Sasaki’s training location was not the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Glendale, but rather the baseball field at the University of Arizona, also located in Arizona.

Looking back at Sasaki’s rookie MLB season, it was far from smooth. He was sidelined with right shoulder impingement syndrome and placed on the injured list from May 10 for over four months, only returning on September 23. He appeared in just 10 games during the regular season (8 as a starter), finishing with a 1-1 record and a 4.46 ERA.

Nevertheless, Sasaki showed his talent again with impressive relief pitching in the playoffs. After the training video surfaced, many fans flooded the comments cheering him on: “Looks like you’re in great shape!” “This year could be an All-Star season!” “Can’t wait to see you explode in the new season!”