Shohei Ohtani doesn’t just hand out compliments like candy, but when he does, the baseball world listens. This time, his unexpected praise was directed at a 19-year-old Japanese slugger—a rare moment of humility from a player who can do just about everything better than everyone else.

But when it comes to kohai and senpai, who does it best?

We have a new name knocking at the door of MLB. And he is already earning praise from Shohei Ohtani. The name is Rintaro Sasaki, and he is an absolute force of nature. At just 19 years old, Rintaro Sasaki is making huge strides in the baseball world. At the start of 2025, he started his NCAA career as a player for Stanford, and he is putting up a show there.

In the 4 games he has played, he already has 8 RBIs at an average of .389. But this is not what caught Shohei Ohtani’s eye. In a video posted by MLB’s X account, a reporter tells Sasaki that he had just talked to the Dodgers star who told him that Sasaki’s swing is better than his (Ohtani’s).

The Japanese youngster humbly disagreed with the reporter, laughing and shaking his head, “No, no, no. Obviously no.” The reporter did say that Ohtani had advise for his defense but where Sasaki’s concerned, senpai is much better!

If Sasaki keeps up this pace, it won’t be long before he’s making pitchers regret every fastball they throw his way. Ohtani’s praise might have caught him off guard, but let’s be real—when a baseball unicorn like Ohtani says your swing is better than his, the world takes notice. Whether Sasaki wants to admit it or not, the pressure is officially on.

Rintaro Sasaki’s bold move: Why Japan’s top slugger chose NCAA over NPB

Rintaro Sasaki had Japan’s pro leagues at his feet, but instead of signing with an NPB team like every top slugger before him, he packed his bags for college baseball in the States. A 140-home-run high school phenom choosing textbooks over paychecks? Unheard of.

But Sasaki isn’t just any hitter—he’s rewriting the script on how Japan’s best young talents make their way to the big leagues. And if his early numbers at Stanford are any indication, he might just prove that skipping NPB was the smartest move of his career. By avoiding NPB’s nine-year service rule, he becomes MLB draft-eligible in 2026—a bold, calculated gamble.

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Now if you look at the young slugger’s college stats at Stanford, he might convince you that he’s actually ready to face this challenge. Going 6-for-14 at the plate, crushing two doubles and scoring most team RBIs with eight across three games during his first series against Cal State Fullerton, Sasaki was an instant hit.

While some traditionalists in Japan might view Sasaki’s choice as unconventional, it’s a bold statement about his aspirations. By setting new priorities, he’s once again following his famous senpai and charting a new course for those who will come after him! After all, who needs the well-trodden path when you can blaze a trail straight to the majors?