Softbank Hawks Hawks President and Acting Owner Yoshimitsu Goto attended an owners' meeting in Tokyo on the 16th and spoke to reporters about infielder Rintaro Sasaki (Stanford University), who was selected as the team's first overall pick in the draft and is currently in negotiations to join the team. It has been reported that Sasaki has decided to join the Miami Marlins, who were selected in the eighth round (235th overall) of the MLB draft, but Goto said, "Of course, we have seen the reports, but we have also obtained information through the correct channels. We are simply waiting based on that information."

Regardless of whether he actually joins the team, similar cases are likely to arise in the future.Regarding concerns about the increasing number of players choosing to take on the challenge of Major League Baseball without first playing in Japan’s professional league baseball, he remarked, “That is a concern that those involved with the NPB baseball should have. We need to build up the appeal of the league so that players will choose to make their mark in Japan.” Finally, regarding Sasaki’s decision, he repeated twice, “I’m looking forward to it,” before leaving the venue.