The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a stupendous start to the 2025 year as they are 5-0 with multiple wins in two continents.

One of the very few negative aspects of this young season is a name that many around the baseball world touted as a generational talent. At just 23 years old, Roki Sasaki is going through a little bit of an adjustment period to MLB.

As high as the phenom’s ceiling is, nothing is wrong with not being there yet.

In fact, it would likely be more surprising to the public if there were no early struggles from Sasaki given his age and that he made just his second career MLB start and first-ever start in North America on Saturday.

The right-hander only lasted 1.2 innings, allowing two runs, three hits and four walks across 61 pitches.

Manager Dave Roberts spoke calmly on the rookie and how he is still adjusting to an influx of new variables during this latest chapter of his baseball life.

“Roki, throughout his entire career, he’s been a command guy. He doesn’t walk guys. He’s filled the strike zone,” Roberts said. “I think that, right now where he’s at, there’s some new surroundings. He wants to impress. He wants to pitch well. He’s going up there competing. And right now it’s just not syncing up.”

With the kind of fanfare Sasaki received upon his initial interest in coming to the majors this offseason — to the pressures that come with joining the defending champions — there aren’t many ways for a 23-year-old to mentally prepare for the weight of this when stepping onto the mound.

“From the outset, I’ve always said we believe that this is a process,” said Roberts. “He’s a young player who is [making his] first delve into Major League Baseball. We’re going to keep getting better and go back to work, and get ready for his start in Philadelphia. And so right now for me, I’m not going to overthink it and just continue to support him and make sure he’s ready to go his next start.”

The collected nature of Roberts will hopefully spread to Sasaki as his first two starts have been less than ideal, but there are many more in store for the right-hander to get things going on the right track.