Rintaro Sasaki, a promising young talent from Japan, has captured national attention after being named Baseball America’s Preseason National Freshman of the Year. Sasaki had an incomprehensible high school season, throwing a record-breaking 55 home runs. Now, he has traveled from Japan to the United States and is all set to begin at Stanford University for the spring quarter of 2024.
During his final year, Sasaki achieved a phenomenal 55 home runs in one high school season, catapulting him into the national consciousness in Japan. Now, as he makes the jump to the college game, expectations are just as lofty. His decision to play college baseball in the U.S. has drastically altered his route to Major League Baseball (MLB). Rather than going the faster path to the pros, though, he’s now charting a much different path.
Under NCAA rules, when Sasaki got to Stanford, he was immediately cleared to compete in games. The staff didn’t want to throw him to the wolves and set him down for the rest of the season as he acclimated to his new surroundings. David Esquer, Stanford’s head coach, noted how important it has been to involve Sasaki in team practices and experiences. He pointed out that this decision is really historic.
“It just didn’t make sense, but we felt it did make sense to kind of integrate him in all our practices, take him on the road, get him to experience what being a member of the team is like,” – David Esquer.
Sasaki & Associates is also joining the team in a seamless transition. Enthusiastically clearing his throat, his teammate Saum is taking it upon himself to be his voice, actively shepherding him around campus and into the greater Stanford community. Communication barriers due to language were broken when Sasaki’s family used Google Translate to help.
“Those people knew where he was at all times, really,” – Saum.
Sasaki struggled at the plate down the stretch, collecting just seven hits in his final 53 at-bats, and driving in only two runs in that stretch. Irrespective of this, his addition to the team has led to a huge meta spotlight. The Stanford Cardinal baseball team have had a rocky stretch recently. In fact, they’ve dropped 11 of their last 12 conference contests, with sweeps from difficult foes such as Georgia Tech and Virginia.
Sasaki’s high school career was unprecedented in its magical, concentrated excellence. He averaged over 80 homers a summer and broke the national home run record over the equivalent of 240 games, in just three years. His father would ultimately serve as his high school coach. Prior to that, he coached Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi, among others.
“I’m not sure if I should say this, but I think this decision was unprecedented, so it probably caught people by surprise,” – Rintaro Sasaki.
The 20-year-old superstar-in-the-making is fully aware of the weight on his shoulders as he embarks on a new challenge representing Japan. His passion for greatness was on display in his pursuit of greatness on the field and beyond.
“I’m carrying Japan’s pride on my back, and I’m getting a lot of attention,” – Rintaro Sasaki.
Sasaki made the decision to chase college baseball for factors other than a faster path to the MLB. He had additional, deeper motivations pushing his choice. While he’s appreciative of the opportunities, he recognizes the challenges that his decisions have presented.
“Of course, the path I want to take probably has its pros and cons. But the most important thing I don’t want to let go of is making sure I put my all into what I want to do,” – Rintaro Sasaki.
Off the field, as much more than just a baseball player Sasaki has rapidly endeared himself to the Stanford baseball community. Teammate Saum had heard incredible stories from Sasaki’s adventures off the field. Perhaps the best moment captured was when Sasaki tasted Root Beer for the first time on a field trip to In-N-Out.
“The first time we took him [to In-N-Out] he tried Root Beer for the first time, I’ll never forget the look on his face, jaw dropped,” – Saum.
Sasaki’s open-mindedness and willingness to form bonds with his teammates has encouraged an atmosphere where teammates inspire, motivate, and support one another. Saum also noted the way fans have encircled Sasaki at games, demonstrating the Nippon Ham Fighters rookie’s ascendance to fame.
“We’d get off the bus to go to a game and there would be a crowd of people waiting for him,” – Saum.
Rintaro Sasaki is all in on this new adventure. He’s resolved to build his own legacy in college baseball, while still doing justice to the legacy he comes from. It is his resolve that is most evident, as he seeks to reconcile the immense weight of an entire world’s hopes with those of his own dreams.
“So I’d like to play with my head up high,” – Rintaro Sasaki.
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