YouTube Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman recap Roki Sasaki’s spring ball debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he threw three shutout innings. What can we expect from the Japanese phenom this season?

Making his spring training debut on Tuesday night, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki lived up to the billing. Pitching against the Cincinnati Reds, Sasaki

After entering to begin the fifth inning following the completion of countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto's night, Sasaki delivered three shutout innings, surrendering two hits and a walk and plunking a batter. He struck out five of the 13 batters he faced, requiring 46 pitches along the way.

The phenom from Japan was dealing in his first Cactus League action.

Roki Sasaki pitched three scoreless innings in his spring debut, striking out five while allowing one walk and a pair of hits against the Reds on Tuesday night at Camelback Ranch. Sasaki followed Yoshinobu Yamamoto,

The Dodgers will test that floor from the outset, with Sasaki slated to pitch the latter of the two games against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo and expected to be in the starting rotation thereafter. Roberts confirmed that was still the Dodgers’ plan Tuesday, as Sasaki pitched for the first time in Cactus League action against the Cincinnati Reds.

In three scoreless innings, the Monster of the Reiwa Era allowed two hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out five against the Cincinnati Reds. He appeared in relief of countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who allowed two hits in four innings.

In the most recent MLB pipeline prospect rankings, Sasaki’s name is first on the list. Going into spring training, Sasaki commanded the interest of all MLB fans; everyone wanted to see him suited up in his Los Angeles Dodgers jersey and hurling the ball against major-league hitters.

Sasaki reaches 99 mph with his fastball, a significant improvement over his bullpen sessions and live batting practice. “This is the best we’ve seen him,” Dave Roberts says.

Roki Sasaki pitched three scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his spring training debut against the Cincinnati Reds.