Dodgers give former Yankees prospect emotional roster opportunity for Tokyo Series

The New York Yankees could certainly use as much pitching depth as the Los Angeles Dodgers have accrued these days. While we might've thought both clubs were on semi-equal footing just a few weeks ago, the annual injury bug that ravaged LA last year took aim at the Yankees' clubhouse this time around.

Both teams pushed their staffs to the limits last October, and were facing similar strain entering the 2025 season. LA has actually been under more duress, given that their Opening Day is far earlier, with Tokyo exhibitions on March 15 and 16 and game action on the 18-19 against the Chicago Cubs. Somehow, with pressure mounting, the Dodgers are the franchise doling out heartwarming stories, while New York is melting. At least this tale, in particular, involves a former Yankee getting rewarded after a difficult career.

Matt Sauer, once a second-round pick of the Yankees in 2017, saw his career stall early due to a 2019 injury and the COVID cancellation. He uncovered a few bright spots in the years that followed, striking out 17 men with the Somerset Patriots in 2022. Still, it was unsurprising that Sauer was taken in the Rule 5 Draft by the Royals after the 2023 season, and even less surprising to learn recently that he'd wound up with the Dodgers, sporting an 8.22 ERA in four spring outings. Somehow, his worst yet will go down as the most memorable.

Sauer's second spring appearance was a shutout, but he allowed runs in the other three, including a four-run outburst in two innings against the Mariners on Friday.

Though Sauer ended his spring outing on a dour note against the Ms, Roberts quickly made it clear that he was not heading to the mound to admonish him or offer tweaks. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Roberts instead told Sauer mid-pitching change that the right-hander had made the Tokyo Series travel roster, and would be accompanying the team overseas.

Dave Roberts tells former Yankees starter Matt Sauer he's made Tokyo Series roster

The totality of Sauer's big-league career, to date, consists of 16 1/3 innings and 14 earned runs allowed for the 2024 Kansas City Royals after being selected from the Yankees' ranks in the Rule 5 Draft. New York welcomed Sauer back into their system following his '24 DFA, but he headed back into minor-league free agency this winter before securing a spring training invite from the Dodgers on Dec. 16. As has been the case for plenty of pitchers seeking a fresh start lately, that decision seems to have been among the best of Sauer's life.

Sauer's response? "Pure shock," and he'll now get to send his mother Tammy, born in Okinawa, back to Japan for the first time since childhood. If the big-league Yankees are going to struggle to produce positivity these days, at least a former Yankee in Sauer has been given the ultimate tip of the cap (as well as $70,000 to fly overseas with the team and remain on an upward trajectory).