Stanford Slugger Smashes Scoreboard in Hot Streak

Rintaro Sasaki's power surge has the Japanese phenom back in the spotlight.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:48pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, geometric shapes and vibrant colors representing a college baseball game, with a damaged scoreboard as the central visual element.A cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic energy of a college baseball game between Stanford and Virginia Tech, with the scoreboard damage caused by Rintaro Sasaki's powerful batting practice swing as a central focal point.San Francisco Today

Stanford baseball's Japanese slugging phenom Rintaro Sasaki is on a tear, capping a hot stretch by smashing a hole in the scoreboard at Virginia Tech during batting practice. The sophomore is batting .339 over the past month with 7 home runs, equaling his total from all of last season.

Why it matters

Sasaki was one of the most hyped college baseball prospects in recent memory after a record-breaking high school career in Japan. His decision to forgo the pro leagues and play at Stanford made him a national story, but he struggled as a freshman. Now, his resurgence could help power Stanford back to the NCAA Tournament and boost his MLB draft stock.

The details

Sasaki, the son of a legendary Japanese baseball coach, hit a wooden bat home run during batting practice that left a hole in the Virginia Tech scoreboard. He also reached base nine times over the weekend series, balancing power (2 homers) with plate discipline (5 walks) to help Stanford take two of three games from their conference foes.

  • Over the past 4 weeks, Sasaki is batting .339 in 15 games, with 4 doubles and 7 homers.
  • On Sunday, March 29, 2026, Sasaki hit the scoreboard-breaking home run during batting practice.

The players

Rintaro Sasaki

A sophomore baseball player at Stanford University and the son of a legendary Japanese baseball coach. He was a highly touted high school prospect in Japan before deciding to play college baseball in the U.S.

Stanford Cardinal

The baseball team of Stanford University, a perennial powerhouse that has struggled to a 13-13 record so far this season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The hype about Sasaki's chances to be a prospect for the MLB Draft was 'totally unwarranted' based on what he saw.”

— Keith Law, Analyst

What’s next

Sasaki's hot streak could help power Stanford back to the NCAA Tournament, while also boosting his MLB draft stock.

The takeaway

Sasaki's decision to forgo the pro leagues in Japan and play college baseball at Stanford has been a rollercoaster, but his recent power surge shows why he was one of the most hyped prospects in the sport and could now help revive the Cardinal's season.