Genei Sato Drafted by Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in NPB

Penn State baseball pitcher Genei Sato was chosen by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the ninth round of the 2026 Nippon Pro Baseball Draft on Thursday.

This selection is seen as a lower-risk move compared to last year's first-round pick of Rintaro Sasaki. Sato, who previously attended Sendai University, opted to pursue his baseball career in the United States by enrolling at Penn State, aiming for the 2027 MLB Draft.

Sato has performed well in fall ball games, achieving five shutout innings and eight strikeouts. He is anticipated to be the starting pitcher for Penn State on Fridays in 2027.