Rintaro Sasaki made a smart decision, investing in his future by opting to participate in the MLB Draft League.
Sasaki, 19, could've chosen to spend his 2024 summer vacation lounging by a pool or hanging out at the beach.
Instead, batting practice, fielding practice and baseball games have kept him busy.
As a result, Japanese high school baseball's all-time home-run leader (140 round-trippers) is showcasing his skills in the United States two years before he's eligible to be selected in the MLB Draft. The Stanford University student is also adjusting to American baseball before ever appearing in a college game, and the results have been solid.
Playing for the Trenton Thunder, Sasaki reached base safely in his first 18 games with the team. He also homered in his first game in a Thunder uniform against the Frederick Keys on June 11 in Frederick, Maryland.
Sports reporter Kyle Franko of The Trentonian, a daily newspaper in New Jersey's capital city, has closely followed Sasaki's overall performance since he joined the Thunder. Franko has written numerous articles on the team this summer.
Closely observing Sasaki in the batter's box during games, Franko wrote in a recent tweet that the Japanese slugger reminds him a bit of a former MLB star.
"Rintaro Sasaki adjusting just fine to American baseball," Franko wrote. "Was talking to some people in Trenton the other day about player [comparisons] and [I] see some Prince Fielder."
The hulky Fielder, a six-time All-Star, spent 12 seasons in MLB (2005-16) and smacked 319 career home runs.
"He can flat-out play; he understands his swing and how to play the game of baseball," Smith was quoted as saying by the website. "What surprised me was how much power he has for such a young age."
You must be logged in to post a comment Login