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.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Roki Sasaki with the understanding that while he possesses off-the-charts raw talent, he still needs refinement to reach his full potential.

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

Roki Sasaki has arrived, and he came as advertised. The 23-year-old Japanese pitching phenom made his first spring training appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, and was absolutely dominant.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts finally revealed that we can expect to see Sasaki make his Cactus League debut this Tuesday when Los Angeles takes on the Cincinnati Reds. Sasaki will throw anywhere from three to four innings and won't start the game but instead come in as relief following Yoshinobu Yamamoto's outing.

Roki Sasaki is on track to make history in Major League Baseball during his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Four months after I gave a scouting report culled with the help of executives and scouts on what to expect from Roki Sasaki—one of them described his ceiling as “best pitcher in the world”—how did the Los Angeles Dodgers righthander measure up to the advance billing in his first outing?