Pitching Giants: Sasaki & Chapman's Long-Limb Link

In an unusual comparison from a player development perspective, Dodgers vice president of pitching Rob Hill has drawn parallels between Roki Sasaki and Aroldis Chapman.

Both pitchers possess exceptionally long limbs, presenting unique challenges in coordinating their mechanics on the mound. Hill noted that their extreme leverage requires significant momentum and careful distribution of movement.

Chapman, a veteran reliever, has overcome considerable career hurdles, including a period of one-year contracts and a trade. As an eight-time All-Star, he is on track for a potential Hall of Fame career. Through his first 22 appearances in 2026, he maintained a 0.83 ERA and 14 saves.

Sasaki, a starter for the Dodgers, also faced developmental struggles after missing time with injury and being ineffective in 2025. He was converted to a reliever late in 2025, proving indispensable in October, before returning to the rotation in 2026.

Despite early season difficulties in 2026, with a 5.88 ERA by May 16, Sasaki has shown recent improvement. Over his next four starts, he allowed only four earned runs in 24.1 innings, though this strong run concluded with a rough outing against the White Sox on June 12.

Hill's perspective suggests that addressing Sasaki's mechanics could be key to his consistent performance, much like Chapman's own developmental journey.