Teruaki Sato, 1B/3B/OF

Age: 27 (3/13/99) B/T: L/R
2026 Traditional Stats (NPB): .306/.383/.609/.991, 39 HR, 106 RBI, 100 R, 40 2B, 3 3B, 68 BB, 164 K, 614 PA, 143 G
2026 Advanced Stats (NPB): 196 wRC+, 26.7 K%, 11.1 BB%, .370 BABIP, 93.2 AVG EV, 116.3 max EV

Breakdown

Teruaki Sato was drafted by the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball during the 2020 season. He debuted in 2021 and hit 24 home runs but struggled with plate discipline (5.5 BB%, 38.0 K%). From 2022-2024, Sato averaged a .265/.331/.469/.800 slash with 20 home runs and a 136 wRC+. Those are good numbers in NPB, but Sato took a huge leap to reach elite production in 2025.

Sato slashed .277/.345/.579/.924, hit a whopping 40 home runs, drove in 102 runs, and posted a 182 wRC+, winning the  Central League MVP award in 2025. He was even better in 2026, with a career-best batting average, RBIs, OPS, walk rate and wRC+. Sato went on to win the Triple Crown.

A constant throughout Sato’s career has been his elite power. Lance Brozdowski of Marquee Sports Network revealed that Sato had an average of 93.2 mph exit velocity and a max EV of 116.3 mph. These exit velocities would be considered 80-grade in MLB, joining the likes of fellow countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Munetaka Murakami.

However, he doesn’t quite have the same plate discipline as they do.

Before the 2026 season, Sato never walked at a 10% rate or more and always struck out well above league average. He has a propensity to swing a lot and chase out of the zone, with a swing rate of 52% and a chase rate of 33%, both in the bottom five percent in NPB. Sato also swings a lot in the strike zone as a result and barrels the ball at an elite level.

Sato’s plan at the plate is aggressive, with the ultimate intent of doing as much damage as possible. He will undoubtedly see better pitches at the MLB level, so he will likely look to cut down on his swing rate to keep his strikeouts at a reasonable clip and increase his walk rate.

Defensively, Sato is listed as a third baseman but has struggled defensively there. Reportedly, teams consider Sato as more of a first baseman or corner outfielder. In 2025, he won the Mitsui Golden Glove Award at third base, which is notable despite the skepticism there. Sato is very fast, maxing out at a 29.5 ft/s sprint speed, which would be around as fast as players like Chandler Simpson and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Contract

Per MLB Trade Rumors, Teruaki Sato is projected to sign a five-year, $80 million deal, similar to what fellow Japanese free agent Seiya Suzuki received when he signed with the Cubs in the 2021 offseason.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

Sato’s power and speed combination are tantalizing, to go along with his still young age of 27. These factors alone might get him the long-term deal he seeks, but as in the case with Murakami, there’s a chance his market craters due to teams’concerns about his profile as a hitter. The Mets need help in the lineup behind Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, Carson Benge, and A.J. Ewing. Sato could provide the impact they need, but he comes with some red flags that might prevent the Mets from seriously pursuing him. Waiting for the price to drop would be wise, as committing to Sato’s risky profile long-term could create some problems down the line.