Highly touted Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki has officially committed to playing college baseball at Stanford University, as announced by the school on Tuesday evening.
Sasaki’s decision to pursue collegiate baseball in the United States comes after initially indicating his intention to bypass the Nippon Professional Baseball league draft, where he was considered a top prospect, last October.
Scheduled to graduate in March, Sasaki will commence his enrollment at Stanford for the spring quarter in April.
Expressing enthusiasm about Sasaki’s arrival, Stanford’s baseball director, David Esquer, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Rintaro into our Stanford family. He stands out as perhaps the most prominent international prospect to join college baseball in the United States in recent memory. His formidable power at the plate aligns perfectly with our team’s style of play, and we anticipate his immediate impact in our pursuit of national titles.”
Sasaki, who attended the same high school as Los Angeles Dodgers’ standout Shohei Ohtani, boasts an impressive high school career highlighted by a record-setting 140 home runs.
Baseball America’s Peter Flaherty offered insights on Sasaki last autumn, emphasizing his remarkable power and consistent hitting ability, along with his adeptness at the plate and defensive prowess at first base.
While Sasaki’s decision to pursue college baseball in the United States isn’t driven by immediate financial incentives, it underscores his commitment to athletic and academic development.
Notably, Sasaki follows in the footsteps of fellow Japanese player Rikuu Nishida, who played college baseball in the U.S. before transitioning to professional baseball after being drafted by the Chicago White Sox.
