Overview
- Penn State announced that Sato will transfer from Sendai University, with plans to join the program in 2026.
- Enrolling in the NCAA makes him eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft, avoiding the timing and earnings constraints of the MLB–NPB posting system.
- Sato had been projected as a top selection in the NPB draft, and Penn State coach Mike Gambino called him one of Japan’s best arms.
- The 21-year-old features a fastball up to 99 mph and an advanced splitter, with a 2.22 ERA and about 10.7 strikeouts per nine over 170.1 innings at Sendai.
- His decision follows recent examples of Japanese amateurs choosing U.S. college baseball, including Rintaro Sasaki, Rikuu Nishida, and Kenny Ishikawa.