Japan's top hitter, who had been pleading to be sent to MLB, is finally heading to the U.S.! Early posting system entry to avoid a strike

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Japan Professional Baseball (NPB) power hitter Sato Teruaki (27, Hanshin Tigers) will finally fulfill his long-held dream of advancing to Major League Baseball (MLB). Despite criticism from some quarters that he was "throwing a tantrum" demanding to be sent to the big leagues, he engaged in a prolonged tug-of-war with the club. However, he ultimately secured the organization's approval by achieving a "triple crown" with overwhelming performance.

According to multiple media outlets, including Japan's Sankei Sports, the Hanshin Tigers officially announced on the 19th that they had approved Sato's transfer to MLB via the posting system (non-public competitive bidding). This marks the first time in club history that a fielder under the Hanshin banner has entered the posting system.

After the end of the 2025 season, Sato strongly expressed his intention to challenge MLB to the club, but was unable to achieve his goal. Even after winning the home run and RBI double crown with 40 home runs in the 2025 season, he maintained a tense standoff regarding transfer permission. Ultimately, he experienced turmoil by delaying contract revisions (salary negotiations) until January 31 of this year, just before spring training. Given that eligibility for overseas free agency is not possible until 2029, local fans and media also pointed out the discord caused by Sato's persistent requests.

However, Sato silenced all the noise with his performance. In the 2026 season, he swept up a .306 batting average, 39 home runs, and 106 RBIs to claim the Central League batting triple crown. He stands as the ninth player in NPB history to achieve a triple crown and has emerged as a strong candidate for the league MVP for the second consecutive year. The Hanshin organization finally unlocked the door, acknowledging his unparalleled contribution of leading the team to three championships in six years since joining.

Hanshin's Shimamura Koo Dan-bon (Director) explained, "The key was whether an environment had been created where everyone around could support it. Seeing his performance over six years and this season's results, we judged that he had reached that level." Sato also said, "I sincerely thank the organization for respecting my wishes."

Reactions in the U.S. are already heating up. MLB.com, the official Major League website, stated on the 20th, "A major power hitter has been added to a thin free agent market," and evaluated that "Sato is over 25 years old, so unlike former Sasaki Roki, he can freely sign a large contract without being subject to international amateur bonus pool restrictions." According to John Heyman of MLB Network, multiple big-market clubs, including the New York Mets, New York Yankees, LA Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies, are already keeping an eye on Sato. Regarding his defensive position, despite his history as a third-base Golden Glove winner, there is speculation that he may transition to first base in the long term, similar to his big league senior Murakami Munetaka.

The biggest variable in this posting system entry is "time." The posting application process can begin on November 1, and negotiations are possible for 45 days after disclosure. However, with the expiration of the Major League labor-management collective bargaining agreement, there is a possibility of entering a lockout and strike phase from December 1, leading to an expected fierce behind-the-scenes battle to conclude contracts at high speed within November.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original