Roki Sasaki Open to Minor League Stint if Dodgers Think It’s Best for Development

With two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell nearing a return from injury at the end of the May, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have to demote one of the current six starting pitchers in the starting rotation.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto , Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow will remain in the rotation. That leaves Justin Wrobleski , Emmett Sheehan and Roki Sasaki battling for the final two spots.

Based on recent performances this season, Sasaki seems like the obvious choice to be taken out of the rotation when Snell returns. The Dodgers have consistently said Sasaki will not be moved to the bullpen nor demoted to the minor leagues but making that move could help Sasaki’s development down the road.

Dylan Hernandez of the California Post compared Sasaki’s situation to Hyeseong Kim starting the 2026 season in the minor leagues.

By sending Kim to the minor leagues, the second-year utility had the opportunity to play every day. The Dodgers brought Kim up to the Big Leagues on April 5, and now, he is slashing a career-best .308/.370/.400 with a .770 OPS and one home run in 25 games.

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“The Dodgers wanted Kim to play every day in the minors instead of being part of a platoon in the majors. In retrospect, the plan prepared Kim to have the success he is having now,” Hernandez wrote. “… the objective should be the same, which is to place Sasaki on a path to realize his potential. Sasaki has a chance to be special, but for him to take 10 steps forward, he might first have to take one back.”

Sasaki is reportedly open to a stint in the minor leagues if the Dodgers believe it will help his development, according to Hernandez.

As the Dodgers continue to evaluate the rotation situation, Sasaki is keeping his focus on improving his own performances.

“Someone coming in means someone will have to go out, of course. But I have to focus on my own performances, and the importance of throwing the ball well doesn’t change regardless of the situation,” Sasaki said, per Hernandez.

Sasaki’s next start is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 against the Atlanta Braves .

Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

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