LOS ANGELES — Roki Sasaki was back on the Dodger Stadium mound Friday.
This time, the Japanese rookie was facing hitters in a simulated-game setting. Sasaki threw 46 pitches in three innings against reserve outfielder Alex Call and two minor-leaguers.
“I thought it was a good simulated game for him, get up and down three times,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Fastball is fine. The split was good at times. He accomplished what he needed to.”
Roberts said the next step for Sasaki could be a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment.
Sasaki hit 97 mph with his four-seam fastball in the first two innings and was still hitting 96 mph in his third inning. He also mixed in a two-seam fastball, something he wasn’t throwing in his eight starts for the Dodgers earlier this season.
“He looked good,” Call said. “I did watch him for a couple pitches on the Oculus (virtual reality technology) to see what I was going to get. Just more for timing and release point, things like that. His splitter was something that was special. Had a very unique spin, a disguised spin almost, and some of them had a cut action too. Some went down, some went away. I thought he looked good. Fastball was there.”
Sasaki has been on the injured list since early May with a shoulder impingement. He said earlier this week that he is pain-free. Roberts said the 23-year-old Sasaki has used this time to work with strength and conditioning coach Travis Smith on adding weight and strength.
“He’s more physical. I know he’s gained some weight,” Roberts said. “The throw wasn’t as ‘shoulder-y.’ I think it was a little bit more clean. He was still kind of searching, as far as asking the pitching coaches some things. And that’s kind of what people do.
“(We are) waiting for him to get to a point where he feels really comfortable and confident in his delivery and where he’s at, so he can attack the hitters, (make that) his focus. We’re not there yet. But I thought for a three-inning situation, it was solid.”
RELIEVER ROUNDUP
While Sasaki was facing hitters on the field, injured relievers Tanner Scott, Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates threw bullpen sessions.
Scott has been out since experiencing a “sting” sensation in his forearm during his outing on July 21 but Roberts said the reliever is “getting really antsy and that’s an understatement.”
Kopech underwent minor knee surgery but is on track to return at the end of this month when he is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list.
Yates went on the IL last week with lower back pain. His examination showed no structural damage but he did receive cortisone shots, Roberts said.
“It’s more of the hips. I think the cortisone shots helped,” Roberts said of Yates.
All three could be back before the end of August or early September.
OUTFIELD DEFENSE
The Dodgers swapped reserve outfielders, sending Esteury Ruiz back to Triple-A Oklahoma City and promoting Justin Dean from OKC.
Dean, 28, spent six seasons in the Atlanta Braves’ system without reaching the major leagues. He became a minor-league free agent last winter and signed with the Dodgers. In 81 games with OKC, he hit .274 with a .796 OPS and 25 stolen bases.
Like Ruiz, Dean is a right-handed hitter with speed. The difference, however, is Dean’s greater ability on defense, making him more useful to the Dodgers.
“Justin is a really plus-plus center fielder,” Roberts said. “So just giving him a look out there as a defensive replacement to pinch-run, be a guy off the bench. I think there’s a lot of utility in that.”
In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Dean, the Dodgers designated first-baseman-DH Luken Baker for assignment. Baker was claimed on waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday and played just one game for OKC before Friday’s move.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays (RHP Chris Bassitt, 11-5, 4.12) at Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell, 1-1, 3.21 ERA), Saturday, 6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM