Sasaki Roki's spring training debut performance was subpar, with Manager Roberts attributing it to overthinking and excessive effort.

In his spring training exhibition debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers' 24-year-old Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki started the game, giving up three hits, striking out three but also walking two, yielding three runs over merely 1.1 innings without finishing the planned two innings, with only 17 strikes among 36 pitches. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested he was likely overthinking and trying too hard.

Roberts remarked, "I felt he was somewhat overexerting himself. We haven't seen this throughout spring, possibly because it was a live game. He relied too heavily on the fastball, which put him at a disadvantage in the first inning. I believe his control improved in the second inning as he mixed his pitches better. Personally, I thought he used too many pitches and faced too much pressure in the first inning, so we didn't let him pitch the intended innings in his first appearance. Honestly, I think today was the first time since last year that we've seen his pitching mechanics break down due to overexertion."

The Dodgers manager also acknowledged Sasaki's progress: "Certainly, he has shown improvement. As he makes more appearances, he needs to better integrate his pitch selection and control his fastball. As I mentioned, I believe today's outcome was due to the adrenaline rush from his first outing. I hope everyone improves, especially players like Roki who are eager to build on last year's foundation."

Including his time with the Chiba Lotte Marines in NPB, Sasaki Roki has primarily used a four-seam fastball combined with a split-finger fastball, but in this game, his most frequently used breaking pitch was the cutter, with the split-finger and a similar number of sinkers employed more for strategic purposes. His fastball reached a maximum of 98.6 mph, with the slowest around 94 mph.

The three-time World Series champion manager also offered advice to his pupil: "I think the most crucial thing for him is to build his pitching approach around the split-finger fastball. He used to get strikes with the splitter, mix in the fastball, and gradually develop a third pitch. But today, he often fell behind in the count, and his fastball didn't perform as expected, particularly in terms of control. He probably didn't use the splitter at all in the first inning. I can only attribute this to it being his first outing. I expect that with more appearances and innings, we'll see him pitch better."

Sasaki Roki commented, "Today had its ups and downs. Although there weren't many positives, I think it's good that I was able to throw that many pitches and came out without any injuries."

Since Sasaki Roki is under an international rookie contract and won't be released by the Dodgers, he will not participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, focusing instead on preparing for the season with the goal of securing a regular spot in the starting rotation. He stated, "Of course, given my situation, I need to be at 100% from the season's start. I aim for that and hope to successfully complete the entire new season. It's not just about adjusting the wrist release; I must also fully prepare in terms of pitching mechanics and pitch selection."