Rintaro Sasaki Signs With Miami Marlins, Forgoes SoftBank Hawks Career

Japanese first baseman Rintaro Sasaki joins the Miami Marlins after hitting 140 high school home runs and recording 16 homers at Stanford.

Rintaro Sasaki officially signed with the Miami Marlins on Sunday, finalizing a deal after the National League East club selected him in the eighth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The 21-year-old first baseman made the announcement during a press conference in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, where he confirmed he would not join the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. The Hawks had previously chosen the left-handed slugger as their first-round pick in the Nippon Professional Baseball draft, creating a rare tug-of-war between two major international leagues for a single prospect’s services.

Sasaki arrives in the Marlins organization carrying the record for the most home runs in Japanese high school history, having launched 140 long balls during his tenure at Hanamaki Higashi High School. This prolific power output surpassed the previous national marks and established him as a generational talent before he ever stepped foot on a collegiate diamond. Rather than entering the NPB draft immediately upon graduation, he moved to the United States to play for Stanford University, where he spent the last two seasons refining his approach against Division I pitching.

During his most recent campaign with the Cardinal, the infielder posted a .262 batting average while demonstrating significant power. His 2024 stat line featured 16 home runs and 47 runs batted in, proving that his strength translated effectively to the American game. Over the course of his sophomore year, he maintained a disciplined presence at the plate, which ultimately convinced Miami scouts to utilize their eighth-round selection on him despite the logistical complexities of his dual-draft status.

Standing as a physical presence at first base, Sasaki’s development was heavily influenced by his high school coach, Hiroshi Sasaki, who is also his father. The program at Hanamaki Higashi has a storied reputation for producing elite talent, including Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi. Interestingly, Sasaki also received early instruction from Toru Ohtani, the father of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star, further cementing his ties to the highest levels of the sport’s lineage.

The decision to sign with Miami marks a departure from the traditional trajectory of Japanese ballplayers, who typically spend seven to nine years in the NPB before pursuing MLB opportunities via the posting system. By choosing the Marlins now, Sasaki enters the minor league system directly, aiming to climb the ranks through the Florida State League or other affiliate levels. He expressed that the choice was agonizing, admitting to the media that he wavered between the security of a first-round contract in Japan and the uncertainty of the American professional ladder.

During the emotional news conference, the slugger noted that he prioritized the challenge of the unknown over a guaranteed path to stardom in his home country. He emphasized that his ambition to compete in Major League Baseball was the primary catalyst for his move to Stanford and remains his ultimate objective. The Marlins now possess a unique asset who bypassed the standard international signing restrictions by playing college baseball in the United States, allowing them to secure a first-round talent in the middle rounds of the domestic draft.

Sasaki’s statistical profile at Stanford was highlighted by his ability to drive the ball to all fields, though his primary value lies in his pull-side power. His 16 homers in a single collegiate season rank among the top performances for international players in the Pac-12. As he transitions to the professional ranks, the Marlins will look to maximize his exit velocities, which have already drawn comparisons to established major league power hitters. This signing represents a significant investment in international scouting and a bold move by a player determined to define his legacy through unconventional means.