Stanford University infielder Rintaro Sasaki, 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 the team's farm facility in Chikugo, Fukuoka on the 2nd. He appeared around 2 p.m. and toured the indoor practice field and other facilities. This visit to the farm facility was the last of his two-day engagement with the team.

On the 1st, he met with team executives in Fukuoka City and received a video message from owner Masayoshi Son, whom he said he "respects the most in terms of his way of life." Afterwards, he went to Mizuho PayPay Dome to watch a game Seibu Lions and greeted Chairman Oh and manager Kokubo in person. He showed that he had fully received their enthusiasm, saying, "I think it was a truly profound day in my life."