"There are still bad habits that I picked up from when my delivery has broken down over these last two years. Skill alone won't fix that. I think you have to train to make it part of yourself. I think that if I [continue training], I can overcome these challenges and establish consistency as a starter."
Roki Sasaki, the Japanese pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had an exceptional rookie season that culminated in a World Series title, though he transitioned to a reliever role due to team needs and shoulder issues. Entering the 2026 season as a starter—his original goal—Sasaki has struggled in spring training with an 18.90 ERA across two starts, allowing seven runs in 3.1 innings with five walks. Despite these poor early results, there are reasons for optimism. Sasaki's issues appear mechanical rather than mental, as he remains confident and articulate when discussing his performance. He acknowledges picking up bad habits during his delivery breakdowns over the past two years and believes focused training can correct these issues.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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