Ed Odeven 
Hanshin Tigers cleanup hitter Teruaki Sato smacks a run-scoring double against the Chunichi Dragons on May 10, 2025, at Koshien Stadium. (©SANKEI)
Hanshin Tigers third baseman Teruaki Sato, a mainstay in the lineup since 2021, is having a notable season in the 2025 campaign.
Now in his fifth NPB season, the Hyogo Prefecture native is also closing in on a pair of career milestones ― 100 home runs (he has 95) and 1,000 total bases (he has 990) ― through Wednesday, May 21.
Sato is one of NPB's top young players, a three-time Central League All-Star (2021-23). He's a fan favorite at his hometown Koshien Stadium and wherever else the Tigers play games.
The 26-year-old left-handed slugger, who is batting .289, was No 1 among NPB players in home runs (11) and RBIs (33) heading into the CL-leading Tigers game on Thursday with the archrival Yomiuri Giants at Koshien. In addition, he's first in Japanese pro baseball in strikeouts (49).
Indeed, the hard-swinging cleanup hitter often makes mighty contact when he hits with the ball (his 13 doubles and three triples in 2025 deliver ample evidence) or creates a stiff breeze when he misses. Sato's power-hitting ability is underscored by his impressive .616 slugging percentage.
Advice and Predictions for Teruaki Sato
Recognizing Sato's abilities as a baseball player, retired Hanshin legend Masayuki Kakefu recently expressed words of encouragement to him.
"Don't let your condition fluctuate too much, but rather let the small [ripples] of good form help you stay in good shape and compete," Kakefu was quoted as saying by Full-Count, a Japanese baseball website.
Kakefu, who bashed 349 homers in his NPB career (1974-88), which he spent entirely with the Tigers, then issued a pair of bold predictions for Sato.
"I expect you to win the [Central League] home run and batting title," the 2025 Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inductee was quoted as saying.
In a live game telecast on Mainichi Broadcasting System on May 20, commentator Kakefu provided a slightly different analysis about Sato as a home-run title contender. "I think he has a great chance this year," said Kakefu, adding, "I think he has to win it this year."
Hitting at a Higher Clip in 2025
Sato didn't finish as one of the CL's top batters in his four previous seasons: batting averages of .238 in 2021, .264 in 2022, .263 in 2023 and .268 in '24.
But he's elevated his play in 2025. After hitting at a .282 clip in April (24-for-85) with nine homers, Sato has raised his overall batting in May (.333) with a pair of homers in 16 games this month.
In his first 41 games, nearly 30% of the entire season, Sato has been at his best with a 1-1 count. Opposing pitchers have been tagged for five homers against Sato in such situations in 2025. He's hitting .643 (9-for-14) when he puts the ball in play on 1-1 pitches.
Conversely, the full count has produced considerable frustration for Sato. He's struck out 13 times on 3-2 pitches.
Cutting down on strikeouts would help Sato maintain a higher batting average over the course of the season. It could also raise his profile among MLB scouts and front-office executives.
In December 2024, Sato made an appearance on a Yomiuri TV morning program and outlined his future goals as a ballplayer.
"Of course, I have been aspiring to play in the majors since I was a little kid," Sato said on Su Matan. "If I have a chance, I would like to make it to the majors."
Sato, of course, isn't the only skilled batsman on the Tigers, who won the 2023 Japan Series. Teammates Takumu Nakano (.318), Shota Morishita (.304) and Koji Chikamoto (.302) are also among the CL's top 10 leaders in batting this season.
A Memorable Experience for Teruaki Sato
Like the rest of the Tigers organization, Teruaki Sato said he was excited the team got to play the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs in a pair of exhibition games in March before the MLB Tokyo Series.
Sato drove in a run with a fifth-inning single in Hanshin's 3-0 triumph over the Cubs on March 15 at Tokyo Dome.
A day later, Sato grabbed the spotlight in the fourth inning. Facing Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell, Sato swung and missed a four-seam fastball on the first pitch. Snell followed with a pair of balls (both sliders). On Snell's fourth offering, Sato didn't connect on a curveball.
Sato wasn't fooled by Snell's 2-2 pitch. He crushed the four-seam fastball over the right-center field fence to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
That blast accounted for the only runs in the game.
In a feature story about Sato published in May in Sports Graphic Number and on the magazine's website, the popular slugger discussed his philosophy in the batter's box.
"If you hit it hard, it will fly," Sato said.
Snell was a 21-game winner for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, and amassed 14 victories for the San Diego Padres in 2023.
"Of course I knew about Snell," Sato said, according to Sports Graphic Number. "But I never thought I'd be facing him."
On the other hand, there's every reason to believe that Sato's fame will continue to increase throughout baseball.
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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.
