After 1 a.m., 'ML's first win' I tasted in 8G...But Sasaki was not happy. "I failed to contribute to the team."

After 1 a.m., 'ML's first win' I tasted in 8G...But Sasaki was not happy. "I failed to contribute to the team."

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"I didn't feel like I was contributing to the team"

Sasaki started against the Atlanta Braves in the 2025 Major League Baseball at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 4th (Korea time), and won his first victory in his debut by throwing 98 pitches, three hits (one homer), two walks, four strikeouts and three runs (three earned) in five innings.

Sasaki, who not only became the youngest player in Japan to play a perfect game but also threw fastballs up to 165 kilometers per hour, heated up the Stove League the previous year. The amount that Major League teams can use was set at a fixed level for players under the age of 25, and virtually all 30 Major League teams showed interest in Sasaki. As a result, Sasaki chose to join the Dodgers.
However, after the season began, Sasaki's performance was very disappointing. In his debut in the Tokyo Series on March 19, he gave up as many as five walks in three innings, and in his debut against the Detroit Tigers on March 30, he was substituted for two hits, four walks and two runs (two earned) in one ⅔ inning. In particular, he was criticized for refusing to replace manager Dave Roberts in his second appearance.

Still, from April, special talents gradually began to work in the big leagues. He allowed one run (one earned run) in four innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowed one run in five innings against the Cubs, and allowed two runs (two earned runs) in six innings against the Texas Rangers to secure his first quality start (three earned runs or less in six innings). He also showed remarkable improvement in his showdown with the Pittsburgh Pirates by allowing three runs (three earned runs) in five ⅔ innings.

He had a fly in the ointment. He did not have a single win in his seven previous appearances. However, his appearance on Tuesday was different. With the game postponed for three hours due to rain, Sasaki overcame a loss crisis at the first and second bases in the first inning to start without allowing a run, but scored his first run in the second inning when he got a timely hit by Eli White in a loss crisis that was created when Aggie Albies allowed a hit and a stolen base.

While he did not seem to be in his best condition, the Dodgers' batters provided Sasaki with full scoring support, and Sasaki scored no runs again in the third inning. In the fourth inning, he gave up his third run when he hit a home run by leadoff hitter Albies and gave up an additional timely hit to Nick Allen, but in the fifth inning, he tied Matt Olson, Sean Murphy and Albies all with a fly ball to complete the three-way exit and meet the requirements for victory. And the Dodgers' mound kept a big margin and got his first victory.

It must be a good day, but Sasaki expressed more regret than joy that he had not been able to help the team. According to Japan's revenge media, when asked about his first win, Sasaki said, "First of all, I feel relieved. I'm glad that it went well. I was very happy that many people said "Congratulations," and added, "This first win will be a very special day for me. It's very meaningful to be able to win in this way, and I won't forget it easily."

The reason Sasaki said this was because the game ended well after 1 a.m. local time in the U.S. Sasaki then continued to blame himself rather than showing joy. "I often lose points right away when I receive support for my score. Apart from my first win, I felt that I did not contribute much to my team in the early days of this season. I was able to throw five innings only recently," he said. "I didn't feel that I was contributing to my team." 토토사이트

Still, his pitching has definitely improved recently. Sasaki also cited it as a positive factor. "Of course, I'm not completely satisfied, but I feel like I'm gradually playing a role," Sasaki said. He gave the ball of his first win to his teammates, saying, "I won because the fielders and relief pitchers made the game well today."