TOKYO - The Hanshin Tigers announced Monday they have approved star third baseman Teruaki Sato seeking a move to Major League Baseball via the posting system this offseason.
Sato won the Central League's Triple Crown this season with 39 home runs, 106 RBIs and a .306 batting average for the Tigers, who clinched the CL pennant for the second straight year before losing to the DeNA BayStars in the CL Climax Series.
The 27-year-old from Tiger heartland in Hyogo Prefecture was the CL's MVP last year after leading the league in both home runs and RBIs.
In his 2021 rookie season, he hit 24 home runs, setting a new franchise record for a first-year player.
He contributed to the Tigers winning their first Japan Series title in 38 years in 2023.
Sato was a member of the Samurai Japan roster that reached the quarterfinals of this year's World Baseball Classic.
