The pitching coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers revealed how the team is addressing Roki Sasaki's decline in fastball velocity.

Roki Sasaki, who is on the injured list with a shoulder impingement, said he isn't sure if the injury is the main reason for an alarming dip in his fastball's velocity.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki says his right shoulder injury isn’t as bad as it was last year in Japan

“This was certainly a tough conversation,” manager Dave Roberts said, per the outlet. “Austin is a Dodger for life. He helped us win the championship. Caught the last pitch in 2020, in the World Series, and he’s done a lot of great things in the community, for the Dodgers, for myself, personally.

Rushing, a 2022 second-round pick who is ranked No. 15 among all MLB prospects by MLB Pipeline, has yet to appear in MLB action. He is slashing .308/.424/.938 in 31 Triple-A games this season. The Dodgers will designate Austin Barnes for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have called up top prospect Dalton Rushing and let veteran catcher Austin Barnes go LOS ANGELES — Dalton Rushing’s phone rang at 1 a.m. Wednesday, startling the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top prospect and worrying him that it wasn’t anything good.