The date for the start of Spring Training is getting closer and the pitchers and catchers of the Los Angeles Dodgers will have to report on Tuesday, February 11 to begin preparations for the 2025 season, in which Japanese phenomenon Roki Sasaki will make his debut
Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes appeared on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, where he spoke about the team’s plans to take Sasaki’s first steps in Major League Baseball.
“I think the most important thing is to get our coaches, performance staff, pitching coaches to get their hands on it. Now it’s about getting it and talking to him along the way, making it very clear that it’s a partnership,” Brandon Gomes said of plans with Sasaki.
The Dodgers will protect Sasaki with a six-man rotation
An important part of Sasaki’s decision was to choose a team that had the ability to protect him to build his career in the long term, and the Dodgers have a plan. Among the measures they will take will be a six-man rotation, although Gomes clarified that it would have to be when necessary and when Shohei Ohtani is available to pitch.
“We’re going to give him a lot of rest and it’s something we’ll continue to evaluate along the way. Obviously, when Shohei is back, it will be easier for us to do that and get extra rest when needed,” the Dodgers general manager said, adding that they are confident they can carry out the plan because they have “the flexibility at the front end with our depth and the number of players we have.”
In the early days of Sasaki in Spring Training, they will talk to him, specifically about the things that have worked for him, but they will also suggest other things to be open to the fact that there is not just one way of doing things.
“It’s a challenge, but it can definitely be done. It’s about prioritizing how to make sure the guys are up to the challenge and making sure they’re setting them up for success,” Brandon Gomes concluded.