Roki Sasaki had a bad start in the big leagues. The Japanese star failed to meet the expectations, but it’s just the start, and it’s too early to cast doubts. The entire league was eagerly awaiting to watch him take the mound by storm. However, it was a rough outing for the star, and several have criticized the starting pitcher.
Former MLB All-Star Jonathan Lucroy called Sasaki’s performance “Soft.” The Dodgers pitcher was seen crying in the dugout after his dreadful performance. Some people believe he’s soft, but Lucroy thinks it would either make or break him in the big leagues.
“He’s soft. I’ve seen it before. Only thing that will help him is to fail. Massively. He will either peter out or transform into a hardened warrior. That will be his choice. Big-time players make big-time players in big-time situations,” Lucroy said.
Dodgers fans lashed out at the MLB veteran as they showered their support for Roki Sasaki. Here’s a look at some fan reactions from X.
“And who is that guy, a nobody trying to get on ESPN with his comments because he can’t with his play,” one fan wrote.
And who is that guy, a nobody trying to get on ESPN with his comments because he can't with his play
— SoCalJoeyG (@SoCalJoeyG) March 31, 2025
“Lucroy will forever get clowned for this take, as Roki accomplishes everything in baseball. We don’t forget and we will help him remember this horse sh*t take,” one fan replied.
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Lucroy will forever get clowned for this take, as Roki accomplishes everything in baseball. We don't forget and we will help him remember this horse sh*t take
— 🏆 Al in the Cheap Seats ⚾️🏀 (@TitlesR_Forever) March 31, 2025
“This is rich coming from a guy who had a .628 OPS in his rookie season and has career post season OPS of .603. Talk about soft,” another fan replied.
This is rich coming from a guy who had a .628 OPS in his rookie season and has career post season OPS of .603. Talk about soft
— Rodney Woodward (@therodwood1971) March 31, 2025
“No one knows who Jonathan Lucroy is,” another fan replied.
No one knows Jonathan Lucroy is
— Kimus (@SupSumik) March 31, 2025
“I think he can go fly a kite,” another fan chimed in.
I think he can go fly a kite.
— Waltrane (@Waltrane) March 31, 2025
“Lucroy, an absolute mediocre player? The totally forgettable player? Wow,” wrote one fan.
Lucroy, an absolute mediocre player? The totally forgettable player? Wow
— Luis Felipe (@luisfelipebeis) March 31, 2025
Said by someone who made one all-star appearance and is buried in obscurity.
— MK (@heeno758) March 31, 2025
MLB Podcaster Dan Clarke Offers Support For Roki Sasaki
Not everyone is trolling the Dodgers star for his performance. MLB podcaster Dan Clarke is one of the many who supported Sasaki. Clake mentioned watching the Japanese star struggle and expressing his emotions in the dugout was brutal.
“This is brutal to watch. Love the passion he has, though. Love seeing how much he cares. He’s just a kid (23) and this rough start will, in time, only help him as an athlete and as a human. He will overcome this adversity and silence his haters,” Dan Clark wrote on X.
This is brutal to watch. Love the passion he has, though. Love seeing how much he cares. He's just a kid (23) and this rough start will, in time, only help him as an athlete and as a human. He will overcome this adversity and silence his haters. #LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/sAsfAp5ljG
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) March 30, 2025
As Clarke mentions, it’s not the end for Roki Sasaki; it’s just the beginning. The pitcher has an entire season ahead of him to get set in the big leagues. The same thing happened to Yoshinobu Yamamoto during his Dodgers debut. Yamamoto turned out to be one of the best pitchers in the league.
Also Read: What Happened To Freddie Freeman? Exploring The Dodgers Star’s Return Timeline
