MLB’s Next 9-Figure Japanese Star Is Coming — and 2027 Could Be the Year
Teruaki Sato, a 27-year-old star with the Hanshin Tigers, is emerging as a potential top MLB free agent in 2027 after a dominant performance in Japan's NPB league. Currently batting .405 with eight home runs, Sato is leading the NPB in multiple offensive categories and on pace to surpass his 40-home run season from 2023. If posted, he could command a nine-figure contract despite a weak market for position players.
- ▪Teruaki Sato plays for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's NPB and is 27 years old.
- ▪Sato is currently batting .405 with eight home runs and leads the NPB in most offensive statistics.
- ▪He hit 40 home runs in 2023 and is on pace to exceed that total in 2024.
- ▪Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto have had mixed success in MLB, but Sato's performance suggests he could be more impactful.
- ▪If posted after the 2024 season, Sato could become the most sought-after Japanese position player in MLB.
- ▪Sato has not yet officially announced plans to move to MLB, but speculation is growing around a potential 2027 transition.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Last offseason was awkward for Japanese stars coming over from their domestic league to Major League Baseball.And while Tatsuya Imai has been a wreck so far for the Houston Astros, Munetaka Murakami is setting the league on fire with his MLB-leading 13 home runs for the Chicago White Sox. Kazuma Okamoto has also turned around a slow start to his MLB season with the Toronto Blue Jays, now with nine home runs of his own north of the border.Even with a possible lockout on the horizon, though, there's a shining prize that almost every team will be interested in this offseason: Teruaki Sato.More news: MLB Cy Young…
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