Marlins draft Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki, who faces MLB vs NPB career choice
After 16 HRs at Stanford in 2025, Sasaki was picked by the Marlins. The Hawks hold NPB rights until July 31, but Sasaki says he’s still undecided on where he’ll play next.
Marlins' Japanese draft pick Rintaro Sasaki faces a big decision on his baseball future...
The Miami Marlins took Japanese power hitter Rintaro Sasaki in the eighth round of Sunday’s MLB Draft, putting the former high school star in position to choose his next path.
Sasaki came to the US in 2023 as Japan’s all-time high school home run king and has spent the past two seasons at Stanford. Playing college baseball in America made him eligible for both the MLB Draft and Japan’s NPB Draft.
In October, Sasaki was taken in the first round by both the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. The Hawks ultimately secured the exclusive rights to negotiate with him if he decides to start his pro career in Japan.
Staying at Stanford is another option. In 2025 he hit 16 home runs and drew 45 walks while striking out 50 times.
The 21-year-old Sasaki comes from a baseball background well known to fans in both Japan and the US.
Sasaki Bombs 🔜 Miami@rintarosasaki is taken in the eighth round by the @Marlins!#GoStanford x #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/9LYxPRZps9
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) July 12, 2026
He launched 140 home runs at Hanamaki Higashi High School — the same school as Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Sasaki’s father, Hiroshi Sasaki, also coached Ohtani there.
Before high school, Sasaki played “little senior” youth baseball and was coached by Toru Ohtani, Shohei’s father.
SoftBank is hoping Sasaki chooses to return to Japan before their exclusive negotiating rights run out on July 31, but Sasaki says he hasn’t made a decision yet.
WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM FROM RINTARO!!!!
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) April 26, 2026
📺 » ACC Network Extra | #GoStanford x @rintarosasaki pic.twitter.com/RkQlj5HTAh
Sunday marked day two of the MLB Draft, which began with the Chicago White Sox taking UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 pick.
Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson was selected No. 2 overall by the Tampa Bay Rays.
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