时间:2024-11-17 13:37:16 来源:网络整理编辑:レジャー
iraq vs jordanJapanese slugger blazing his own baseball path in U.S. via Stanford, MLB Draft League THE iraq vs jordan
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 12, 2024 at 11:35 JST
Rintaro Sasaki poses for photos at the Sunken Diamond baseball field at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. on May 31. (AP Photo)
STANFORD, Calif.--When balls start landing on the Stanford football team’s practice grass way beyond the wall in right-center field, everybody knows Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki must be taking batting practice at nearby Sunken Diamond.
Even the swim coaches have trained themselves to be on high alert on the pool deck more than 450 feet away just in case the left-handed hitting Sasaki somehow sends one that far — and they believe he will soon enough.
His coach is counting on it.
“He might splash a few,” Stanford coach David Esquer said. “He’s pulling toward the pool for sure.”
Sasaki, who hit 140 high school home runs and then made waves by opting out of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league draft, has been immersing himself in classes and a new culture on Stanford’s Bay Area campus for two-plus months. He’s learning English and getting settled in a baseball routine that has included road trips with the team before he begins his collegiate career in earnest this fall.
The 19-year-old prospect hit a two-run homer and an RBI single in his U.S. debut Tuesday in the MLB Draft League, playing for the Trenton Thunder alongside more players who hope to one day develop into major leaguers. The Thunder won 11-1 at Frederick, Maryland, and Sasaki is set for his home debut Friday in New Jersey.
Before leaving town, the savvy Sasaki reminded Esquer his games will be streamed so the coach can watch. He also has requested help in finding another team once the Draft League season ends.
“He’s fired up for it,” said Esquer, the seventh-year Stanford coach who previously spent 18 seasons at rival California. “He wants to play.”
And Sasaki hardly seems fazed by the expectations that come with being a trendsetter of sorts given he is taking his own unique path. He comes across as mature beyond his years when discussing the importance of finding something to fall back on after his baseball career is through. Most Japanese players — including Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani — first become professionals at home, often with goals of coming to the United States already having years of experience.
Sasaki is determined to build a foundation for his life well into the future, long after his baseball days are done. His dad, Hiroshi, who coached Ohtani and Toronto pitcher Yusei Kikuchi in high school, instilled in him starting at a young age the need to “make a plan.” Sasaki notes he heard it so much, there’s no way it wouldn’t become ingrained in him.
Another key message from his father: “I have to earn it. Nothing comes free,” Sasaki shared during a recent interview at Sunken Diamond, Stanford’s ballpark.
There’s no precedent for an elite Japanese prospect such as Sasaki foregoing his country’s draft system. International players with nine years of professional service time can come to Major League Baseball as free agents, while pros with fewer than nine years can ask to be posted by their Japanese club — a system in which that team receives a fee depending on the size of the player’s contract.
Yet major league teams have agreed to strict spending limits on international players under 25 years old. That’s why Ohtani, who left Japan at 23, signed with the Los Angeles Angels for just over $2.3 million in 2017.
By attending college in the U.S., Sasaki will be eligible for the draft in three years, expediting his potential path to the big leagues. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick, pitcher Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh, received a $9.2 million signing bonus.
While Sasaki is striving to play at the highest level one day, he insists for now the focus is on taking each necessary step to get there while enjoying his college career first.
Longtime family friend Junpei Tomonaga offers assistance as an interpreter when Sasaki needs it, but he is determined to do this on his own sooner rather than later.
Sasaki acknowledges that Ohtani’s stardom and success here along with that of Kikuchi greatly impacted him.
“They’re the ones who influenced my decision,” he said.
Away from home for the first time, Sasaki insists he is adjusting just fine thanks to all the support surrounding him.
“I never miss Japan,” he said. “I enjoy the challenge.”
And no question Sasaki is thrilled to be somewhere like Stanford.
Esquer considers this a perfect fit. He applauds Sasaki for his courage.
“It’s very brave to do what he’s doing, going to another country right after high school,” he said.
When Sasaki made his official recruiting visit, members of the Stanford Japanese department and community made a point to come see him, make him feel welcome. Not that you will hear Sasaki say anything negative about the other two schools who were at the top of his list, California and Vanderbilt.
“Stanford is a leading school in America,” he said. “I still have big respect for the other schools I visited.”
He has embraced using Uber Eats to order food, like his favorite, Chipotle. Sasaki is studying English and physics — and making sure he can speak English well is his biggest anxiety at the moment.
He recently completed his first quarter of classes.
“He’s quietly charismatic despite speaking little English, very impressive,” Esquer said. “Everybody is impressed by him, his teammates. He brought energy to the field as if he was active and ready to play — and he can play.”
Despite that unease with the language barrier, Sasaki can speak near-perfect English for much of what he needs to say. He thanks everybody who has welcomed him here and made the adjustment so smooth and comfortable as he begins his new life.
“My teammates are so good, they are so kind,” he said in English, sporting a big smile. “I appreciate the teammates, they’re just so helpful all the time, also coach Esquer and the other baseball coaches are good (people). I love Stanford baseball.”
「ゼーガペインSTA」下田正美ら登壇する上映会が新宿で 、ファンからの質問に答える2024-11-17 13:27
J1札幌 、不屈の男・MF深井一希が今季初めてリーグ戦メンバー入り…21日・町田戦2024-11-17 13:24
平田憲聖、阿久津未来也 、坂本雄介が通算16アンダーで首位 石川遼は5アンダー52位 最終組がハーフターン2024-11-17 13:19
「新時代の怪物になれる」恩師の期待‶相撲界の大谷になれ″ 大の里の背中押した言葉2024-11-17 13:05
巨人ドラフト1位の18歳が「世界一を目指したい」野球が復活の28年ロス五輪でU18代表の悔しさ晴らす2024-11-17 12:36
23年関東オークスを制したパライバトルマリンが抹消 今後は繁殖入りの予定2024-11-17 12:26
今世こそは対等に告白を!時代を超えた主従ラブコメ新連載「前世からの恋事情」2024-11-17 12:20
J1札幌、不屈の男・MF深井一希が今季初めてリーグ戦メンバー入り…21日・町田戦2024-11-17 12:08
時を超え 、再び巡り合った男女の転生ファンタジー「転生聖女と元魔王の騎士」1巻2024-11-17 11:55
坂本の土曜注目馬【中山10R・九十九里特別】2024-11-17 11:47
小説家を目指すろう者の少女の物語 羊の目 。の単行本「おひさまとえんぴつ」2024-11-17 13:28
清水大成が2イーグル含む「64」で初V王手 平田憲聖は2差2位に後退2024-11-17 13:05
樋口幸平、初写真集には地元・兵庫の友人らも登場「不思議な感覚」2024-11-17 13:05
小宮の土曜注目馬【中山11R・ながつきS】2024-11-17 12:44
カムバック賞はブレーブスで18勝をマークしたセールとホワイトソックスのクロシェット両左腕が受賞2024-11-17 12:21
隆太陸 、序二段7場所目で初めての勝ち越し 引退発表の兄弟子・貴景勝に「いい報告ができる」2024-11-17 11:44
小林邦昭さんが待ち受け画面にしていたアントニオ猪木さんの卍固め写真…担当記者が追む2024-11-17 11:37
「嘆きの亡霊は引退したい」メインPV&ビジュアル公開 福山潤、大塚明夫 、道井悠も(動画あり / コメントあり)2024-11-17 11:26
「保健師がきた」最新刊発売で埜納タオの直筆サイン本当たる、1巻は半額に2024-11-17 11:26
石破茂元幹事長 、自民党総裁選のライバルへ思い明かす「彼に対して嫌な思いを持ったことは一度もない」2024-11-17 11:07