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<h1>Genei Sato Aims to Transfer to U.S. for 2027 MLB Draft</h1>
<p>Right-handed pitcher Genei Sato, just a few days away from turning 21, is on track for a likely first-round pick in the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft. However, he has other ambitions.</p>
<p>Reports indicate that Sato, a third-year student at Sendai University in Shibata, Japan, is planning to move to an American school in February 2026 with the goal of entering the 2027 MLB Draft.</p>
<p>This route is not commonly pursued by Japanese players aiming for the Major Leagues; most have historically utilized the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/japanese-posting-system" target="_blank">posting system</a> that has been in place since the late 1990s. However, since Sato is not bound by a contract with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), he is free to consider attending college in the U.S.</p>
<p>While he is not the first to take this path, Sato is paving a new way for others. Rintaro Sasaki, who made a historic decision to opt for NCAA over NPB as the first Japanese high schooler, is currently a sophomore at Stanford. Additionally, Kenny Ishikawa, who transitioned from his collegiate career in Japan to Seattle University, will be playing for the Georgia Bulldogs this spring.</p>
<p>According to Baseball America, Sato, who stands at 6 feet and weighs 180 pounds, possesses a high-90s fastball and a low-90s splitter, along with a slider, though evaluators have not had much exposure to it yet.</p>
<p>Sato is preparing for his collegiate journey in the U.S. by also planning to participate in summer baseball in 2026. He has already faced some top NCAA hitters during the Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series this year, where he played against a Team USA lineup featuring several potential first-round selections.</p>
<p>Highlighting his capabilities, Sato has struck out notable players such as Roch Cholowsky, MLB Pipeline's top draft prospect, as well as Drew Burress and A.J. Gracia, both considered strong contenders for the upcoming draft.</p>
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