Roki Sasaki, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has fallen behind his injured teammates in recovery progress, continuing to experience setbacks as he works through a right shoulder impingement. Since being sidelined on May 13, Sasaki has started a throwing program, but his progress remains limited compared to fellow pitchers Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, who have shown marked improvements recently.

While Blake Snell has resumed multiple bullpen sessions and Tyler Glasnow even faced batters for the first time since his injury, Sasaki is still restricted to light throws on flat ground. This cautious approach highlights the ongoing challenges he faces in regaining full throwing ability.

Dodgers Management Comments on Lack of Throwing Intensity

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared insights ahead of a game against the San Francisco Giants, noting that Sasaki’s recovery has not advanced to a higher level of intensity in his throwing exercises. Roberts emphasized that the pitcher is maintaining basic arm movement but has yet to build the confidence needed to increase effort or add more strenuous activity.

Nothing new. I think that right now he’s kind of just trying to keep his arm moving,

Roberts said before the series opener against the Giants.

I don’t think that he’s in a place where he feels that he can have the intensity. So right now, we’re just kind of status quo.

Pitching coach Mark Prior mirrored this assessment, confirming that Sasaki experiences no actual pain but has not progressed beyond gentle catching drills.

Further clarifying the situation, Roberts added,

I don’t know if he’s feeling something, or he just doesn’t have the confidence to kind of trust that he’s in a good spot,

and,

So any way you want to look at it, he’s still kind of just moving his arm, but there isn’t a whole lot of intensity right now.

Timeline for Sasaki’s Return Remains Uncertain

The Dodgers have chosen not to impose a strict timeline on Sasaki’s comeback in order to avoid pressuring the pitcher prematurely. Given the current slow progress, it is expected that Sasaki will miss the remainder of the first half of the season and is unlikely to return before the All-Star break.

This cautious stance reflects concerns about the risk of rushing his recovery, especially considering the complexities involved with shoulder injuries in pitchers.

Building Confidence as a Key to Sasaki’s Recovery

In addition to physical rehabilitation, mental and mechanical confidence are vital components for Sasaki to regain his pitching form. Prior highlighted that Sasaki has not yet reached a stage where he feels confident enough in his shoulder to focus on adjusting his pitching mechanics or addressing struggles he has encountered this season.

Roberts emphasized the importance of health as the foundation for progress, stating,

I think the number one thing is health. And once we get him back to health, where he feels like he can use his arsenal and be pain-free, then you start getting into believing in your stuff,

before adding,

You have enough stuff to get hitters out consistently. So I think that once we get to the health part, we build him up, I think he’ll be in a good spot as far as on the confidence and really learning from some of the things, the experiences that he’s had up to this point.

Sasaki’s current 2024 season statistics include a 1-1 win-loss record, a 4.72 earned run average (ERA), and a 1.49 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) over eight starts, reflecting the challenges he has faced on the mound.

The Road Ahead for Sasaki and the Dodgers’ Pitching Staff

Roki Sasaki’s stalled recovery remains a source of concern for the Dodgers as they navigate the season with 14 pitchers on the injured list. Meanwhile, the progress of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow provides some hope for the team’s pitching depth. The extent to which Sasaki can return to full health and confidence will significantly impact the Dodgers’ rotation moving forward.

Patience appears to be the guiding principle for Sasaki’s rehabilitation, with the team prioritizing complete recovery over a rushed return to action, especially given the demanding nature of his position and injury type.