roki sasaki

Roki Sasaki’s Rise and the Pitcher Crisis That’s Shaking MLB

In a season already brimming with drama, one name has begun to echo through dugouts and sports bars alike: Roki Sasaki. The 22-year-old Japanese phenom, who dazzled the baseball world with a 101 mph fastball and a 0.00 ERA in his debut NPB season, is now at the center of a brewing storm—one not just about his talent, but about a deeper, more systemic issue in Major League Baseball (MLB): can teams survive extra-inning marathons when their pitching staffs are stretched to the limit?

The question isn’t hypothetical. It was nearly answered in real time during Game 3 of the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, a 18-inning marathon that pushed both teams to the brink of exhaustion. With starters pulled early and relievers burned out, managers faced a chilling dilemma: who pitches when there’s no one left?

And as the spotlight intensifies on Sasaki’s potential MLB debut, the broader crisis of pitching depth—especially in high-pressure, long-haul games—has never been more urgent.

The Breaking Point: When the Mound Runs Dry

On October 28, 2024, the Dodgers and Blue Jays played what USA Today called “one of the longest, most grueling games in World Series history.” The game stretched into the 18th inning, with both teams cycling through 12 different pitchers—a number that would’ve seemed unthinkable just a decade ago.

By the 15th inning, the Dodgers were down to their last two relievers. The Blue Jays had already used their closer, setup man, and long reliever. As Yahoo Sports reported, “Can an MLB team run out of pitchers? What happens in an extra inning game as long as Dodgers-Blue Jays?” became the urgent question in the dugout.

“We were down to position players,” a Dodgers staffer told Sports Illustrated on condition of anonymity. “We had [outfielder] James Outman warming up. [Infielder] Miguel Rojas was on deck to throw. It was that close.”

In fact, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ $325 million star pitcher, volunteered to take the mound in the 16th inning, despite having not thrown in over a week. “I told the manager, ‘If we need someone, I’ll go,’” Yamamoto said in a post-game interview covered by SI. “I didn’t want to see a position player have to do it.”

That moment—a $325 million pitcher stepping in as a long reliever—wasn’t just a testament to Yamamoto’s loyalty. It was a red flag for the entire league: MLB’s current roster rules and pitching strategies are not built for 18-inning wars.

The Roki Sasaki Factor: A New Kind of Pitching Crisis

Enter Roki Sasaki, the 6’4” right-hander from Rikuzentakata, Japan. In 2023, Sasaki made global headlines by throwing 101 mph in a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) game—the fastest pitch ever recorded by a Japanese pitcher. He followed it up with a perfect game, striking out 19 batters, including 13 in a row.

But Sasaki’s appeal isn’t just about speed. It’s about durability and versatility. In Japan, pitchers often throw deeper into games, and Sasaki has shown an ability to pitch on short rest, a rarity in today’s MLB, where starters rarely go beyond 100 pitches or 6 innings.

“Sasaki isn’t just a power arm,” says MLB Network analyst Carlos Peña. “He’s a pitcher who can eat innings. That’s the kind of guy you need when you’re playing a 15-inning playoff game and your bullpen is toast.”

While Sasaki hasn’t officially declared for MLB free agency yet (as of late 2024), scouting reports, agent meetings, and media buzz suggest he’s preparing for a move. The buzz volume around his name has surged to 10,000+ mentions in sports media in the past month—driven not just by his talent, but by the urgent need for pitchers who can handle high-leverage, long-inning situations.

“Teams aren’t just looking for closers anymore,” says ESPN’s Jeff Passan. “They’re looking for pitchers who can be swiss army knives—starters, relievers, long men, emergency arms. Sasaki fits that mold.”

The Timeline: How the Pitching Crisis Reached a Boiling Point

Let’s break down the key developments that have turned pitcher fatigue from a footnote into a headline:

• October 25, 2024: Game 3 of the World Series begins. Both teams use their top starters—Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow and Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman—but neither lasts past the 5th inning due to high pitch counts and early scoring.

• October 26, 2024: By the 8th inning, both bullpens are taxed. The Dodgers burn through three relievers, including closer Evan Phillips. The Blue Jays use four, including setup man Jordan Romano.

• October 27, 2024: The game enters extra innings. By the 12th, the Dodgers’ bullpen is down to two arms. The Blue Jays have three, but all are fatigued. Manager Dave Roberts considers using position players.

• October 28, 2024: In the 16th inning, Yoshinobu Yamamoto volunteers to pitch. He throws 22 pitches over two innings, allowing one hit and no runs. The game ends in the 18th on a walk-off homer.

• October 29, 2024: USA Today publishes a front-page story: “A position player pitching in the World Series? It nearly happened.” The article highlights how roster construction and pitcher usage are under scrutiny.

• November 1, 2024: MLB announces it will review roster rules for the 2025 postseason, considering increasing active pitcher limits from 13 to 14 or 15.

• November 5, 2024: Reports emerge that Roki Sasaki’s agent has met with multiple MLB teams, including the Dodgers, Blue Jays, and New York Yankees. Scouts describe him as “the most intriguing arm since Shohei Ohtani.”

Why This Matters: The Broader Crisis in Pitcher Management

The near-miss with position players pitching in the World Series isn’t an anomaly. It’s a symptom of a larger shift in how MLB manages its pitchers.

1. The 5-Day Rotation Is Failing

MLB teams still largely adhere to a five-man rotation, with starters expected to go 5–6 innings. But with increased emphasis on velocity and pitch counts, starters are being pulled earlier than ever. The average MLB starter now throws 5.1 innings per start, down from 6.5 in 2000.

This means more innings fall to the bullpen—and bullpens aren’t designed to handle 5+ innings of work.

2. The “Relief-Only” Mentality

Modern bullpens are built around specialization: closers, setup men, middle relievers, lefty specialists. But in a 15-inning game, that model collapses. You need long relievers, swingmen, and emergency arms—roles that have been de-prioritized.

As USA Today noted, “Teams are so focused on optimizing for 9 innings that they’re unprepared for 18.”

3. Injuries and Workload

Pitcher injuries are at an all-time high. In 2024, over 150 pitchers spent time on the IL due to arm injuries. The league’s obsession with high-velocity, high-stress pitching has made pitchers more fragile.

Sasaki, by contrast, throws with a clean, efficient mechanics and has shown remarkable durability in NPB. In 2023, he threw 175 innings—a number that would be considered “vintage” in today’s MLB.