Roki Sasaki was being looked upon to add some stability to the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation as a pitcher. He had a stellar career in Japan and was going to be an integral part of the rotation along with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw.

Well, as it turns out, Sasaki was put into a closer's role and has blossomed.

Sasaki has been the key closer that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was looking for as the bullpen continued to be a nightmare at times.

With Sasaki growing into his role, especially during the team's postseason run to a second straight World Series appearance, the results could not have been better.

Get this: In eight postseason innings for Los Angeles, Sasaki has picked up three saves and allowed just one run. That's a recipe for success when it comes to relief pitchers. And, that result has got to please Roberts tremendously. 

Even the Dodgers front office is taking note of his performances.

"I mean, he's a freaky arm talent," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in an interview with Dodgers reporter Sonja Chen of MLB.com. "He is so talented, so for him to do this isn't shocking at all."

Sasaki was sidelined in May with a right shoulder impingement. He didn't return to the Dodgers pitching plans for four months. His early starts in the 2025 MLB season were nothing to write home about, either. 

What would the Dodgers get once Sasaki returned in good health? They didn't know, but there were hopes that he could find some type of rhythm on the mound. Also, Sasaki was getting used to a new environment in the MLB world. He had developed a pretty set routine while playing in the Nippon Professional League.

That was going to have to change a bit, something Friedman noted in his comments.

"We knew that he was a guy that was accustomed to doing things a certain way, and we were going to embrace that," Friedman said. "At the same time, forging a relationship and building trust and getting to a place where we could partner together, and not pushing it prematurely."

What helped him to adjust? Well, it involved his rehab time away from the team and Sasaki gave credit to someone in the Dodgers organization who helped him a whole lot.

"I like to give credit to the pitching coach in Arizona," Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton, referring to director of pitching Rob Hill. "When I was rehabbing, [we were] able to identify clearly what the issue was and come to some kind of agreement on what the actual root of the problem is."

When Sasaki returned to the team, Los Angeles really did need some bullpen help with Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott not being able to close games regularly. Again, Friedman recalls a conversation he had with Sasaki.

"'If you don't want to do it, we understand. There's risk in it,'" Friedman recalled telling Sasaki. "'But if you want to, we think there's a real pathway for you to help us win a championship.' We said we don't want the answer right now, but think about it. Next day, called us, and said, 'I'm in.'"

In like Flint, if you will. Sasaki has grown into his role and slammed the door on the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. That set off a big celebration at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers fans wouldn't mind seeing Sasaki do it one more time, this time celebrating a second straight World Series championship. To do that, though, the Dodgers will have to get past the Toronto Blue Jays.

Game 1 of the 2025 World Series is on Friday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Snell will get the start for LA against a powerful Blue Jays lineup. 

Who knows? Sasaki might see himself making some key outings against the Blue Jays. He'll be ready for the challenge, though.