Japanese first baseman Rintaro Sasaki had garnered attention before being drafted in the eighth round by the Miami Marlins.

Sasaki shattered the Japanese high school home run record, belting 140 homers during his prep days. He was expected to be the first overall selection in the 2024 NPB Draft, but decided to forgo playing in Japan to attend Stanford University to reach the majors faster than he would have with the posting system or international free agency. 

Drafted in the eighth round by the Marlins, Sasaki once again had to choose between staying stateside or heading to Japan. According to the Yakyu Cosmopolitan account on X and several Japanese reports, Sasaki has decided to sign with the Marlins and begin his professional journey.

Rintaro Sasaki decision could give Miami Marlins boost in international market

An intriguing prospect, Sasaki has impressive raw power, which he displayed during the Draft Combine by belting a 458-foot home run and posting high exit velocities. Sasaki is also lauded for his strong eye at the plate and presence in the locker room.

While Sasaki could prove to be a draft-day bargain, he could make an impact on the Marlins in another way. The Marlins have only had two Japanese players on their major league roster — outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (2015-17) and pitcher Junichi Tazawa (2018). Should Sasaki continue to develop and progress through the Marlins system, they could use his development as a way to entice international prospects into their system. 

Sasaki has been an intriguing prospect since his high school days in Japan. He will now get his wish and a chance to play professional baseball stateside.