Japanese Slugger Rintaro Sasaki to Sign with Marlins; ‘I Won’t Forget My Samurai Spirit’

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:06 JST, July 19, 2026

Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki on Sunday announced that he plans to sign with the Miami Marlins.

The Marlins selected Sasaki, who has played for Stanford University, in the eighth round of the major league draft. Last year, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks selected the 21-year-old in its first-round pick in Japan’s pro baseball draft.

All eyes were on whether Sasaki would choose to turn pro in the United States or Japan, or stay in college.

“I struggled with the decision right up until the very end, but my desire to take on the challenge in the U.S. won out,” Sasaki said at a press conference held in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Sunday. “I’ll do my best and won’t forget my samurai spirit.