Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki wipes away some tears during a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Baseball: Stanford slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Rintaro Sasaki hits an RBI double during Game 2 of Stanford University's season-opening doubleheader against California State University, Fullerton, on Feb. 15, 2025, in Fullerton, California.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Baseball: Stanford slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Rintaro Sasaki hits a two-run single during Game 1 of Stanford University's season-opening doubleheader against California State University, Fullerton, on Feb. 15, 2025, in Fullerton, California.

Baseball: Teenage slugger Sasaki

Baseball: Teenage slugger Sasaki

Japanese teenage slugger Rintaro Sasaki poses for a photo in front of journalists at Hanamaki Higashi High School -- which Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani also attended -- in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Feb. 20, 2024. Stanford University announced a week before that Sasaki, who hit 140 home runs in his high school career, will enroll at the school in April before joining its baseball team for the 2025 season.

Baseball: Teenage slugger Sasaki

Baseball: Teenage slugger Sasaki

Japanese teenage slugger Rintaro Sasaki poses in front of journalists at Hanamaki Higashi High School -- which Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani also attended -- in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Feb. 20, 2024. Stanford University announced a week before that Sasaki, who hit 140 home runs in his high school career, will enroll at the school in April before joining its baseball team for the 2025 season.

Baseball: Teenage slugger Sasaki

Baseball: Teenage slugger Sasaki

Japanese teenage slugger Rintaro Sasaki meets the press at Hanamaki Higashi High School -- which Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani also attended -- in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Feb. 20, 2024. Stanford University announced a week before that Sasaki, who hit 140 home runs in his high school career, will enroll at the school in April before joining its baseball team for the 2025 season.

Baseball: High school slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Baseball: High school slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Rintaro Sasaki, a baseball slugger who plays for MLB star Shohei Ohtani's alma mater Hanamaki Higashi High School, is pictured during a game in the southwestern Japan city of Kagoshima on Oct. 10, 2023. Sasaki revealed the same day his plan to forgo the upcoming Nippon Professional Baseball draft and pursue a college education in the United States.

Baseball: High school slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Baseball: High school slugger Rintaro Sasaki

Rintaro Sasaki, a baseball slugger who plays for MLB star Shohei Ohtani's alma mater Hanamaki Higashi High School, leaves the park after a game in the southwestern Japan city of Kagoshima on Oct. 10, 2023. Sasaki revealed the same day his plan to forgo the upcoming Nippon Professional Baseball draft and pursue a college education in the United States.