Rintaro Sasaki, a standout left-handed slugger from Japan, has taken an unprecedented step by committing to Stanford University, bypassing professional baseball in Japan. Sasaki, who hit 140 home runs during his high school career and was the top-rated high school player in Japan last year, is already making an impact at Stanford, where he recently hit a ball off the batter's eye in an intrasquad game. His choice to play collegiate ball in the U.S. is seen as a potential fast-track to the MLB, possibly by 2026. Sasaki, a national celebrity in Japan, graduated from the same high school as Shohei Ohtani, attracting significant media attention with over 30 camera crews covering his graduation. Described as potentially as good as Barry Bonds, Sasaki's path to the MLB draft has almost no precedent.
In Japan, Rintaro Sasaki is a national celebrity, instantly recognizable almost anywhere. When he graduated from the same high school as Shohei Ohtani, more than 30 camera crews were dispatched to cover the event. More on his unprecedented path to MLB ⤵️ https://t.co/ZJd6BGsec6 https://t.co/oLkMpheFRd
Last year, Rintaro Sasaki was the top-rated high school player in Japan. He'll blaze a trail and play collegiate ball in the U.S. — a nearly unprecedented path that could fast-track him to MLB as soon as 2026. @extrabaggs on the Stanford phenom. https://t.co/ZJd6BGsec6 https://t.co/N2dapm79Vr
From @TheAthletic: Rintaro Sasaki is not your typical Stanford recruit. Back home in Japan, he is a national celebrity. His path to become eligible for the MLB draft has almost no precedent. “He looks like Barry Bonds. That’s how good he’s going to be.” https://t.co/zeYyw3QDEb https://t.co/bbpIcLYCSJ
An exclusive from @TheAthleticMLB: Rintaro Sasaki, the record-setting high school slugger, talks about his groundbreaking choice of an American university over pro baseball in Japan. He’s already making friends and turning heads at Stanford. https://t.co/VY6hG0yp9U
Rintaro Sasaki is not your typical Stanford baseball recruit. And his path to become eligible for the MLB draft has almost no precedent. @extrabaggs on the left-handed slugger's journey from national celebrity in Japan and its top-rated high school player to the U.S.
Rintaro Sasaki hit 140 home runs in his high school career in Japan. Rintaro Sasaki has committed to Stanford. Rintaro Sasaki playing in an intrasquad game at Stanford hit a ball off the batter’s eye. Rintaro Sasaki is LEGIT. 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵 https://t.co/W4Mu1GKVQq