Stanford University infielder Rintaro Sasaki (2nd year), who was the first overall pick by Softbank Hawks in last fall's draft and is also a candidate for the MLB draft on the 11th and 12th (12th and 13th Japan time), visited Mizuho PayPay Dome on the 1st. hitter currently has three options: to challenge himself in MLB if drafted, to join Softbank Hawks, or to stay at university. On this day, after meeting with Softbank Hawks in Fukuoka City, he toured the facilities of their home stadium.
He is also scheduled to stay in Fukuoka for two more days to tour the team's facilities.
![[Photo] Rintaro Sasaki's sister, Akiha, to join The Giants Girls' Club; "The only thing I'm better at than my brother is my speed."](https://hochi.news/images/2024/12/23/20241223-OHT1I51281-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Draft pick #1, Rintaro Sasaki, returns to Japan from the United States. He will meet with the team on July 1st and 2nd. "I expect to see my next steps within a month," he said. "I am grateful to have three options."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/29/20260629-OHT1I51433-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Interview with Rintaro Sasaki: "I want to honestly and fairly choose a path where I feel I can take responsibility for my future," "It is my destiny as a baseball player and as a human being to face the situation head-on and make a decision." The first-round draft pick slugger returns to Japan temporarily from the United States... Q&A](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/29/20260629-OHT1I51434-L.jpg)
