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The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly scouting Japanese star Teruaki Sato, who has caught the eyes of multiple MLB teams, including the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.
According to a Japanese news outlet, scouts from 10 MLB teams were present at Sato’s game, which was rained out.
The attention Sato is generating remains undeniable — representatives from the Mets, Angels, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, and Tigers were also present.
He is hitting .372 with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs heading into Friday for the Chunichi Dragons in the NPB.
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Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers right fielder Teruaki Sato (8) during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Despite the game being rained out, an MLB scout made a point of highlighting the level of interest Sato is getting.
“The fact that so many scouts have gathered here is proof of how much attention he’s getting,” the scout told reporter Yohei Kuraseko.
Notably, Sato has hit a home run off Blake Snell during the Tokyo Series in 2025. He is a big power hitter who has been very successful throughout his time in Japan, despite being only 27 years old.
“He has huge power, and he has gradually improved at the plate the last few years,” a National League scout told ESPN. “Sato has spoken often about coming. He is intriguing.”
In 2025, he hit 40 home runs and posted a .924 OPS. He can play corner outfield and third base.
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Mar 16, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers third baseman Teruaki Sato (8) is interviewed after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Why would the Dodgers sign Sato?
Sato, according to ESPN.com’s Jorge Castillo, will be posted in 2027.
With Max Muncy at the age of 35 and Teoscar Hernandez being in the last year of his deal during the 2027 season, the Dodgers could look to add another big Japanese name to their squad in Sato.
He would make their squad younger, as it is beginning to age, while adding positional versatility and injecting power into an organization that values it highly.
Munetaka Murakami, a first baseman who was a free agent from Japan in 2026, had a profile similar to Sato’s, though he has adjusted well to stateside baseball.
Kazuma Okamoto, who signed with the Blue Jays, has struggled to make enough contact to reach Murakami, but his power has also carried over to the major leagues.
The relative success of both players could inspire a team like the Dodgers to give a true slugger like Sato a chance and invest in him properly.
Sato would be the team’s fourth major Japanese star on the squad, further cementing their connection and foothold in the country and only expanding their value in the market.
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