Where Will Rintaro Sasaki Go? CEO Speaks on His Real Thoughts and Career Path

There’s a possibility the draft pick could end up being wasted

He is likely the most talked-about college player in Japan right now. That is Rintaro Sasaki (20), currently enrolled at Stanford University in the United States.

A highly regarded slugger who hit a total of 140 home runs in high school at Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate Prefecture), he was selected in this year’s NPB draft as SoftBank’s first-round pick. SoftBank’s Chief Baseball Officer Kenji Johjima immediately flew to the U.S. and met Sasaki on November 5 (Japan time). However, as Johjima told reporters — “Selecting a player in the first round who might not come is itself the message to him” — Sasaki’s hope remains the Major Leagues.

Where does Sasaki’s true intention lie, given SoftBank’s decision to forcibly select him in the first round? We directly approached Hiroyuki Kinoshita, president of the management company Nice Guy Partners, in Tokyo.

— We’re from FRIDAY Digital. May we ask you about Sasaki?

“Some things I can talk about, and some things I can’t.”

— Did you expect SoftBank to take him in the first round?

“Not at all. His ultimate goal is the Major Leagues. Depending on next July’s MLB Draft, there’s a possibility SoftBank’s pick could end up being wasted. Even so, they chose him, so we’re grateful, and we want to proceed without being disrespectful.”

— If he’s drafted by MLB, will he sign?

“Each MLB team drafts only about 20 to 30 players. Across 30 teams, that’s over 600 players in total. Naturally, later-round picks come with tough contract terms. It’ll depend on his draft position, and also how he thinks about things from a long-term perspective”

— This season at Stanford he hit .269 with 7 home runs and 41 RBIs. Those numbers seem a bit modest for a high draft pick

“It’s true the results aren’t something that satisfies everyone. But this is the performance of a young man who came from Japan, living alone in the U.S., submitting multiple English-language reports, attending classes — all while putting up those numbers. And on top of that, he was traveling across the country for away games nearly every week.

I think it’s something to appreciate. His English ability is hardly an issue now. The other day he told me over the phone, ‘This accounting class for business owners and entrepreneurs is really interesting.’ He’s positive, cheerful, and has blended into the baseball team well.”

University will only be a leave of absence

— If he is selected early in the MLB draft, will he quit Stanford University to sign?

“What I don’t want people to misunderstand is this: no matter which team he ends up joining, he will not quit the university. He will take a leave of absence and pursue a professional career. I’ve heard that Japanese universities usually allow only one or two years of leave, but at Stanford it’s unlimited. Many MLB players return to school after retirement to finish their degrees. Graduating from university is also a promise he made with his father (Hanamaki Higashi baseball coach Hiroshi Sasaki).”

— If he isn’t drafted by MLB, will he then join SoftBank?

“Nothing has been decided at this point. The only thing firmly established in Sasaki’s mind is that ‘my ultimate goal is MLB.’ Right now everything is at zero base. Until next July’s MLB Draft, he will focus on his studies and baseball at Stanford. Depending on how things go, staying at the university is also an option.”

MLB teams, SoftBank, or staying at Stanford. What path will the highly watched slugger Sasaki choose? The answer will likely be the option that, when calculated backward from his goal — succeeding on the MLB stage — proves most efficient.