Sports

[ODDS and EVENS] Teenager Rintaro Sasaki Exhibits Talent in the MLB Draft League

Since he made his MLB Draft League debut in mid-June, Iwate Prefecture native Rintaro Sasaki has shown that his mighty swing is the real deal.

Published

2 months ago

July 12, 2024

Ed Odeven

Trenton Thunder slugger Rintaro Sasaki bats in an MLB Draft League game on June 12, 2024. (©SANKEI)

Read the full story on SportsLook - [ODDS and EVENS] Teenager Rintaro Sasaki Exhibits Talent in the MLB Draft League

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.

Rintaro Sasaki Making a Favorable Impression with the Thunder

In a recent World Baseball Network feature, Thunder manager Adonis Smith and pitching coach Shawn Chacon shared insights on why they believe Sasaki has a bright future as a baseball player.

"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."

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.