The fourth "Active Player Draft," in which other teams acquire players who are not blessed with playing opportunities, was held online behind closed doors on the 9th, and Softbank Hawks outfielder Naoki Sato (27) was transferred to Rakuten Eagles. He received a call from the team on his mobile phone while playing golf on his day off, and headed to the team office in his golf attire. He vowed to do his best in his new home, despite the slapstick drama.
Softbank Hawks 's Nao Sato, who became the centerpiece of this year's current Dragon Ball, rushed to the team office without even taking time to change into a suit. While playing golf on his day off, he got a call on his mobile phone with four holes remaining. He was told to "call me after I finished," but "I called quite a bit. I thought maybe it was the current Dragon Ball, so I just went ahead and finished it quickly." Feeling anxious, he finished playing and drove straight to Mizuho PayPay Dome in his golf wear.
Although he was unable to secure a regular spot due to the strength of the undefeated team, he is outfielder who excels in running, hitting and defense. He joined the team as the first pick in the 2019 draft from JR West. He was signed to a development contract in the off-season of 2023, but returned to the regular team in June 2024. This season he played in a career-high 104 games, contributing to the team's Japan Series title with a batting average of .239, 5 Home Run and 18 RBI. During his voluntary training this off-season, he became Yamakawa's apprentice. He was encouraged by Yamakawa, who told him, "You can become a monster," and he noticed that his hitting distance had improved.
The current draft transfers from Softbank Hawks were the first, with Otake of Hanshin Tigers, and the second, with Mizutani of Nippon-Ham, who broke out. "Six years at a high level has been a great asset. I want to become a regular (at Rakuten Eagles) and hit so many balls it's almost meaningless," said the 27-year-old, excited as if it's his turn now. "If he changes his environment, he'll have more chances to play, so I want him to go for it," said manager Kokubo, who was about to depart on a trip to Hawaii to win the championship, showing his parental love. There is ample potential for the value of The Hawks brand to increase even further. (Shimao Koichiro)
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・ [Active Player Draft] Rakuten Eagles acquires Naoki Sato from Softbank Hawks, the 2019 No. 1 draft outfielder with solid defense prowess
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