In a development shaking the Los Angeles Dodgers, young Japanese talent Roki Sasaki is reportedly clearly frustrated by being repeatedly relegated to the starting lineup, even being benched at times during crucial games.

According to several internal sources and recent analysis from Dodgers Nation, the Dodgers coaching staff is seriously considering bringing Sasaki back to the bullpen – a strategic step backward aimed at reducing pressure on the 24-year-old pitcher after a series of inconsistent performances as a starter.

But for Sasaki, it’s not just a technical decision. It’s a blow to his ambitions.

A source close to the Dodgers’ locker room revealed that Sasaki had repeatedly shown his frustration at being sidelined while his teammates played.

“He didn’t yell, he didn’t make a fuss. But his eyes said it all. Roki felt left behind,” the source shared.

This frustration didn’t stem from a single game, but accumulated over several weeks: early substitutions, bullpen sessions instead of starting, and especially the constant questioning of his role in the rotation.

According to statistics from the early 2026 season, Sasaki had clear problems with ball control, with a high walk percentage and fluctuating ERA – causing the coaching staff to lose confidence in him as a long-term starter.

Within the Dodgers organization, a heated debate was underway.

One faction believes Sasaki is still a “rough gem” that needs polishing in a less stressful environment – ​​that is, the bullpen or even a return to the control-oriented pace of the postseason 2025, where he shone brightly as a reliever.

The other argues that constantly changing roles is disrupting the development of a pitcher already under immense pressure from global expectations.

Meanwhile, coach Dave Roberts remains neutral, but acknowledges that the team “is trying to find the best version of Sasaki, although it’s not yet clear whether that’s a starter or a reliever.”

What makes this story special is not just his performance, but Sasaki’s ambition.

According to internal sources, Sasaki has repeatedly expressed his desire not only to become a consistent pitcher, but also to develop into a well-rounded player like Shohei Ohtani – a pitching icon and a historically significant offensive star.

“He’s always talking about Ohtani. Not as a comparison, but as a benchmark,” a teammate revealed. “Roki doesn’t want to be just a good reliever. He wants to change the definition of a Japanese pitcher in MLB.”

That very ambition is creating an internal conflict: between the reality of his inconsistent performance and the image he wants to project.

Analysts believe Sasaki’s biggest problem right now isn’t his technique, but his mentality.

He came to MLB with the expectation of becoming a “future ace,” but has been constantly pulled back and forth between starter and bullpen. This has disrupted his development and created invisible pressure from both the Japanese media and Dodgers fans.

Some experts even compare Sasaki’s current situation to young pitchers who have “broken their development” due to premature role changes in MLB.

With the Dodgers’ rotation under immense pressure from injuries and inconsistent pitching, the decision regarding Sasaki became a crucial strategic dilemma.

Bringing him back to the bullpen could immediately stabilize part of their pitching system.

But doing so risked losing the trust of a young talent they once considered their long-term future.

Roki Sasaki is now not just battling the opposing batter.

He’s fighting for his own place in a highly competitive organization, where every inning is not just a chance to play – but a statement of his worth.

And when he sees his teammates take to the field while he remains on the bench, the biggest question is no longer “where will he pitch?”

But: will he still be a starter for the Dodgers in the future?

A question that even within the team itself, there’s no clear answer.

And the story of Roki Sasaki – perhaps – is only just beginning to enter its most intense phase.