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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Roki Sasaki’s highly anticipated rookie season in 2025 was a "rocky" introduction to Major League Baseball, defined by flashes of brilliance and significant growing pains. The 24-year-old phenom signed with the Dodgers in January 2025 but struggled to find his footing, posting a 4.46 ERA and a 5.80 FIP across 10 appearances (8 starts). His command was the primary culprit; he walked 13.7% of batters faced, a stark departure from his NPB precision. While his raw stuff remained electric—his fastball velocity averaged in the upper 90s—hitters feasted on his mistakes, leading to a bloated 1.49 WHIP. He spent time in Triple-A to refine his mechanics, where he fared slightly better, but his overall impact at the big-league level was replacement-level (-0.1 WAR).

Entering 2026, Sasaki is a prime breakout candidate for patient fantasy managers. Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes has confirmed Sasaki will "absolutely" be in the starting rotation, signaling the team's unwavering confidence in his talent. Projections are optimistic, forecasting a significant step forward with an ERA dropping to the low-4.00s and a strikeout rate rebounding to around 24-25%. Now fully acclimated to the MLB ball and schedule, and with a full offseason of adjustments, Sasaki offers immense upside as a post-hype sleeper. Draft him as a high-variance SP4/5 who could easily perform like an SP2 if he harnesses his command.