GLENDALE, Ariz. — For the first time in a Dodgers uniform, 23-year-old right-hander Roki Sasaki threw to hitters Wednesday in front of a gigantic crowd of spectators, the likes of which rarely gather for such a routine component of baseball’s spring practice sessions.
A year ago, it was Shohei Ohtani’s first live batting practice that had Camelback Ranch buzzing, as eager fans filling the backfields got their first glimpses of the superstar in action wearing Dodger blue. Should Ohtani face hitters as a pitcher this spring as part of his progression back from elbow surgery, that might usurp Sasaki’s inaugural live batting practice as the highlight of Los Angeles’ spring training.