{"id":48863,"date":"2025-04-01T07:08:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T07:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=48863"},"modified":"2025-04-01T07:08:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T07:08:43","slug":"report-dodgers-rookie-phenom-roki-sasaki-accused-of-cheating-during-real-mlb-debut-that-made-him-cry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=48863","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Dodgers Rookie Phenom Roki Sasaki Accused Of Cheating During (Real) MLB Debut That Made Him Cry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Roki<\/p>\n

Roki Sasaki<\/strong>\u00a0did not make it out of the second inning during his United States debut with the\u00a0Los Angeles Dodgers<\/strong>\u00a0on Saturday afternoon and appeared to cry in the dugout after getting pulled.<\/p>\n

Former\u00a0MLB\u00a0<\/strong>All-Star Eric Hosmer, who was watching at home on his couch, also believes that he was cheating.<\/p>\n

The Japanese phenom has yet to adjust to his new role with the reigning World Series champions through two starts and his emotions raise some concerns about the comments made by his agent during the free agency process.<\/p>\n

Sasaki, 23, went 29-15 with a 2.10 ERA and 505 strikeouts in four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan.<\/p>\n

He chose to sign with the Dodgers in January as the most sought-after international free agent on the market.<\/p>\n

Although Los Angeles offered him a fat signing bonus to play in the MLB alongside Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on an immediate World Series contender, it was a little bit of a surprise.<\/p>\n

His agent, Joel Wolfe, initially suggested that his client might be better suited in a smaller market. The reason for his thinking stemmed from how Sasaki was treated by the media in Japan.<\/p>\n

I think that there\u2019s an argument to be made that a small or mid-market team might be more beneficial for him as a soft landing coming from Japan, given what he\u2019s been through and not having an enjoyable experience with the media. It might be\u2026 I\u2019m not saying it will be, but I do\u2019\u2019t know how he\u2019s going to view it; it might be beneficial for him to be in a smaller market.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 Joel Wolfe in December<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then he signed with the Dodgers. So\u2026 the opposite of a small market.<\/p>\n

Roki Sasaki made his MLB debut in his home country against the Cubs. He allowed one run on one hit with five walks and three strikeouts in three innings.<\/p>\n

Not bad. Not great.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0second start of his career\u00a0was rough.<\/p>\n

Sasaki gave up two runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts in just 1.2 innings of work. Dave Roberts pulled him before he reached the second inning against the Tigers.<\/p>\n

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