The Los Angeles Dodgers have built something special when it comes to scouting Japanese talent. They’ve got the blueprint down.
Over the last three offseasons, they landed World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and one of NPB’s most electric arms, Roki Sasaki. That’s how you build a pipeline.
Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani are teammates now in LA, and they’ll suit up together again for Team Japan at this year’s World Baseball Classic. But here’s the thing – Japan’s roster runs much deeper than those household names.
Some of NPB’s brightest stars could make the jump to MLB sooner than you think. The Dodgers might have their eye on one of last season’s MVPs.
Sato’s Monster Season
Teruaki Sato took home 2025 Central League MVP honors after crushing 40 home runs with a .924 OPS in 139 games for the Hanshin Tigers. Not too shabby.
He made his NPB debut in 2021, which means he’s got less than nine years of experience. That timeline matters because the Tigers could agree to post him as early as next offseason if he requests a move to MLB.
“Teruaki Sato will be a big leaguer. It’s a matter of when, and not if,” FanSided’s Mark Powell wrote last Wednesday. “While Sato’s aggressive approach could get him in trouble against MLB pitchers who tend to take advantage of that sort of thing, he also has raw, unmatched power in NPB.”
The talent’s there for Sato to command serious money. And let’s be honest – Ohtani’s probably already working his magic behind the scenes.
Here’s where the timing gets interesting: Max Muncy could hit free agency after the 2027 season. That lines up pretty well with when Sato might be ready to make his move.
“Sato could be one of Ohtani’s top recruiting targets at the WBC because of his power, and the lineup protection he’d receive in Los Angeles,” Powell added.
It’s the same playbook that’s worked before. Get them comfortable, show them the organization, let Ohtani work his charm. The Dodgers know what their doing when it comes to Japanese stars.
