Roki Sasaki is all about winning now. The much-anticipated Japanese fireballer made history Sunday night in Atlanta when he racked up his first career MLB win, with the Dodgers needing every bit of it against the Marlins, 5-2. This is more than a personal win; it's a statement performance that showed why he was one of the most coveted international signings in recent years.
Roki Sasaki delivers dominant outing in first MLB victory
Stepping into the artificial tranquillity of Truist Park, Roki Sasaki was calm, focused, and every bit the phenom he was hyped to be. Sasaki struck out a high-season best eight Marlins batters while allowing just three hits and one earned run through six powerful innings. His fastball consistently gushed over 100 mph, but what dazzled observers was his sequencing and control.
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With a display of clear focus and awesome composure in the clutch, Sasaki's veteran value showed up in various situations, from possibly the highest degree of tension, the fourth inning's jam: bases loaded, when he got a double-play grounder and another strikeout. It also helped to quiet one of the most potent lineups in the National League so early on in his journey through the Majors.
Postgame, Manager Skip Schumaker said of Sasaki:
"He has electric stuff, but tonight, he showed the mental side. That's what makes a true ace."Milestone moment for the Dodgers and Japan
Sasaki's first victory stood up as more than a personal achievement; rather, it was one for all the Japanese baseball fans and the whole Dodgers team. Sasaki had made an immense reputation before he arrived in the United States due to his distinction as one of the very youngest players to throw a perfect game in NPB (in 2022). Sunday marked a major part of that hype.
Naturally, such a technique from Sasaki brightened the Dodgers, who started not so perfectly in 2025. For him, the sky will be the limit. One day, his perfect education will enable the franchise to describe a new long-term projection.
Merely the beginning
As one win would have indicated, it is only an introduction, but in its promise, it feels like the first act of a special beginning. Sasaki has offered the fans what is bound to be one of those dominant careers in MLB with his potent combo of elite talent, discipline, and maturity on the mound.
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If Sunday night was anything to go by, Roki Sasaki is not just here to compete - he is here to make history.
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