Overview
- Major League clubs, including the New York Yankees, sent scouts to Hanshin games on Friday, May 22, 2026, to get live looks at Teruaki Sato as teams open early evaluations.
- Sato is a 27-year-old left-handed power hitter who hit 40 home runs in 2025 and has started 2026 with an eye-catching .372 average, 12 homers and exit velocities above 117 mph.
- He has 136 career NPB homers in 703 games and a .842 career OPS, making him a clear middle-of-order candidate if his bat translates to MLB.
- Scouts praise his raw power but flag high swing-and-miss and low in-zone contact rates plus limited defensive versatility beyond third base and right field.
- Sato remains under contract through 2026 and will be eligible for international free agency this winter with no Hanshin veto, setting up a multi-team bidding environment that could influence Yankees roster plans.