ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 165 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School
Iolani
Drafted in the 3rd round (99th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019 (signed for $472,500).
View Draft Report
The top 2019 draft prospect from Hawaii, Sasaki is a 6-foot, 160-pound center fielder with a solid all-around package and good instincts on the field. Sasaki’s best tool at the moment might be his running ability, which is a 55-grade tool that allows him to cover expansive ground in the outfield when paired with excellent jumps off the bat. He has solid-average arm strength. Offensively, Sasaki has sneaky pop for how small he is, and scouts think he could get to average power and be an average hitter at the next level. He has a big, aggressive swing that could lead to more whiffs in the future, but it works just fine for him at the moment. While there’s no obvious plus tool with Sasaki, there’s no real hole in his game either, and that could be enough for a team to try and buy him out of his Cal Poly commitment on Day 2.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Sasaki was the Rays' most improved prospect in 2022. Before the season began, he appeared on track to be an org player as an outfielder who could run and play center field, but didn't hit with enough authority to project as a big leaguer. Before 2022, Sasaki would normally lose weight throughout the season. He added 10-15 pounds of good weight and then maintained it through the season while making better swing decisions. He was one of the best players on Baseball America's 2022 MiLB Team of the Year.
Scouting Report: Sasaki is a top or bottom of the order table setter who knows that's what he is. His improved strength now allows him to line balls to the gaps, but he's not a home run threat. Sasaki has also improved his pitch recognition and become more selective, staying in the strike zone. His two-strike approach is now what you want in a He's an above-average defender in center field with a fringe-average arm. That might not be enough to play center for the Rays, as they are a team that wants top-of-the-scale defenders in center, but it will play for a lot of teams.
The Future: Sasaki put himself on the prospect radar with his breakout season, but he needs to now build on that.
The top 2019 draft prospect from Hawaii, Sasaki is a 6-foot, 160-pound center fielder with a solid all-around package and good instincts on the field. Sasaki's best tool at the moment might be his running ability, which is a 55-grade tool that allows him to cover expansive ground in the outfield when paired with excellent jumps off the bat. He has solid-average arm strength. Offensively, Sasaki has sneaky pop for how small he is, and scouts think he could get to average power and be an average hitter at the next level. He has a big, aggressive swing that could lead to more whiffs in the future, but it works just fine for him at the moment. While there's no obvious plus tool with Sasaki, there's no real hole in his game either, and that could be enough for a team to try and buy him out of his Cal Poly commitment on Day 2.
Scouting Reports
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Track Record: Sasaki was the Rays' most improved prospect in 2022. Before the season began, he appeared on track to be an org player as an outfielder who could run and play center field, but didn't hit with enough authority to project as a big leaguer. Before 2022, Sasaki would normally lose weight throughout the season. He added 10-15 pounds of good weight and then maintained it through the season while making better swing decisions. He was one of the best players on Baseball America's 2022 MiLB Team of the Year.
Scouting Report: Sasaki is a top or bottom of the order table setter who knows that's what he is. His improved strength now allows him to line balls to the gaps, but he's not a home run threat. Sasaki has also improved his pitch recognition and become more selective, staying in the strike zone. His two-strike approach is now what you want in a He's an above-average defender in center field with a fringe-average arm. That might not be enough to play center for the Rays, as they are a team that wants top-of-the-scale defenders in center, but it will play for a lot of teams.
The Future: Sasaki put himself on the prospect radar with his breakout season, but he needs to now build on that.
Track Record: Sasaki was the Rays' most improved prospect in 2022. Before the season began, he appeared on track to be an org player as an outfielder who could run and play center field, but didn't hit with enough authority to project as a big leaguer. Before 2022, Sasaki would normally lose weight throughout the season. He added 10-15 pounds of good weight and then maintained it through the season while making better swing decisions. He was one of the best players on Baseball America's 2022 MiLB Team of the Year.
Scouting Report: Sasaki is a top or bottom of the order table setter who knows that's what he is. His improved strength now allows him to line balls to the gaps, but he's not a home run threat. Sasaki has also improved his pitch recognition and become more selective, staying in the strike zone. His two-strike approach is now what you want in a He's an above-average defender in center field with a fringe-average arm. That might not be enough to play center for the Rays, as they are a team that wants top-of-the-scale defenders in center, but it will play for a lot of teams.
The Future: Sasaki put himself on the prospect radar with his breakout season, but he needs to now build on that.
The top 2019 draft prospect from Hawaii, Sasaki is a 6-foot, 160-pound center fielder with a solid all-around package and good instincts on the field. Sasaki's best tool at the moment might be his running ability, which is a 55-grade tool that allows him to cover expansive ground in the outfield when paired with excellent jumps off the bat. He has solid-average arm strength. Offensively, Sasaki has sneaky pop for how small he is, and scouts think he could get to average power and be an average hitter at the next level. He has a big, aggressive swing that could lead to more whiffs in the future, but it works just fine for him at the moment. While there's no obvious plus tool with Sasaki, there's no real hole in his game either, and that could be enough for a team to try and buy him out of his Cal Poly commitment on Day 2.
Career Transactions
Pensacola Blue Wahoos placed CF Shane Sasaki on the 7-day injured list.
Tampa Bay Rays traded CF Shane Sasaki to Miami Marlins.
Bowling Green Hot Rods activated CF Shane Sasaki.
Bowling Green Hot Rods activated CF Shane Sasaki from the 7-day injured list.
Bowling Green Hot Rods activated CF Shane Sasaki from the 7-day injured list.
Bowling Green Hot Rods sent CF Shane Sasaki on a rehab assignment to FCL Rays.
Bowling Green Hot Rods placed CF Shane Sasaki on the 7-day injured list.
CF Shane Sasaki and assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods from Charleston RiverDogs.
CF Shane Sasaki roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
CF Shane Sasaki assigned to Tampa Bay Rays.
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