Here is all you need to know about age 17 Rintaro Sasaki as the Japanese prodigy Rintaro Sasaki forgoes the NPB to play collegiate ball in the United States
According to several sources, Japanese high school baseball sensation Rintaro Sasaki intends to enter college in the United States rather than enter the upcoming Nippon Professional Baseball draft.
Who is Japanese baseball player Rintaro Sasaki, bio, age, height, parents, university and school
Sasaki announced on Tuesday that he intends to play baseball in an American college after declining to sign during the NPB Draft, in which it was anticipated that he would be selected first overall.
Sasaki, a home run hitter for the Japanese high school team, declared that he would play baseball in an American college rather than join the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, a report in ESPN suggests.
Sasaki took a risk with this move, since even the most recent superstars to move to the United States didn’t avoid playing professional baseball in their home country. At the age of 23, Shohei Ohtani immigrated to the United States, but prior to being posted, he played for the NPB for a short time.
Japan's No. 1 high school prospect, Rintaro Sasaki, is skipping the NPB Draft and coming straight to the US
The 6'0" 250 lb. 1B set the record for most career high school HR (138)
He is rumored to be heading to Vanderbiltpic.twitter.com/QwWduJgunD
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) October 10, 2023
Who is Rintaro Sasaki?
Rintaro Sasaki is a first baseman who stands six feet tall and weighs 250 pounds, who was reportedly considered the top pick. With 140 home runs, the 17-year-old set a new high school record in Japan. He is Japan’s No. 1 high school prospect, who is ready to skip the NPB Draft.
Rumour has it that Rintaro Sasaki may try to sign with Vanderbilt University, even though it is unclear where the 17-year-old will play next season.
Hiroshi Sasaki, his father, is the coach at Hanamaki-Higashi High, where Sasaki played first base. Sasaki took a somewhat unconventional course of action. The previous year, in the eleventh round of the MLB Draft, the Chicago White Sox selected Rikuu Nishida.
Sasaki goes to Hanamaki-Higashi High School, the same school that Ohtani formerly attended as a budding baseball player. In 2027, Sasaki will be eligible to enter the MLB Draft if he attends an American college, rather than waiting until 2030 to be posted by a Japanese club.