Full Breakdown
Rintaro Sasaki Chooses MLB Over Japan’s NPB, Signs with Miami Marlins
7/20/2026, 3:01:55 AM
Decision to Join the Miami Marlins
On July 19, 2026, Japanese first-baseman Rintaro Sasaki announced that he will sign with the Miami Marlins after being selected in the eighth round of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft. The move comes despite a first-round selection by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft, marking a rare instance of a top Japanese prospect opting for the U.S. major-league pathway directly from college.
Background: High School Record and Stanford Career
Sasaki entered the spotlight as Japan’s all-time high-school home-run leader, hitting 140 homers. He bypassed the NPB draft after high school to enroll at Stanford University, where he played two seasons. As a sophomore, he posted a .262 batting average with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. His development was overseen in part by Toru Ohtani, father of Japanese MLB star Shohei Ohtani.
Data & Statistics
- High-school home runs: 140 (Japanese record)
- Stanford career (2 seasons): .262 batting average, 16 homers, 47 RBIs (sophomore year)
- Draft positions: 8th round (MLB, Miami Marlins) vs. 1st round (NPB, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks)
Verbatim Quotes
- “More than anyone else, I believe I understand my own limitations and how much I still need to improve,” — Rintaro Sasaki
- “Even if this path ultimately turns out to be the wrong choice, I do not want to live with regret.” — Rintaro Sasaki
- “Rather than defining my life by whether I succeed or fail, I want to define it by whether I had the courage to take on a challenge.” — Rintaro Sasaki
- “I went back and forth on this decision until the very end,” — Rintaro Sasaki
What Lies Ahead
Sasaki’s contract with the Marlins positions him to begin his professional career in the United States, foregoing an immediate NPB debut. The decision underscores a growing trend of Japanese talent seeking development and exposure in MLB’s farm system, while Japanese clubs monitor his progress for potential future negotiations.
