Japanese HS phenom Rintaro Sasaki chooses NCAA over NPB, sparks international baseball rivalry

Rintaro Sasaki, the Japanese high school career home run record holder, has decided to skip the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft and play baseball in an American college. Sasaki, considered the top prospect among graduating Japanese high school players, has expressed interest in joining an American college team, with Vanderbilt being rumored as a potential destination. Scouts have praised Sasaki's 70-grade raw power, but there are uncertainties about his performance against top amateur pitchers in the U.S. Currently, he is seen as a third-round draft prospect. Sasaki's ability to strike an NIL deal while in the U.S. may be complicated due to visa restrictions.