"Nippon Professional" Triple Crown champion Teruaki Sato is allowed to challenge the major leagues. Foreign media estimates that he will be offered a contract worth 2.3 billion, and named him to go to the Yankees.

Teruaki Sato. (File photo, Reuters)

[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] The Hanshin Tigers hit Teruaki Sato this year and handed over an excellent record of hitting the Triple Crown. Hanshin Football Club announced today that it will officially allow Teruaki Sato to challenge the major leagues through the admission system. This will also be the first player in the history of the Tigers to travel to the United States through the admission system.

The 27-year-old Teruaki Sato has played 143 games in the regular season this season. He has 165 hits, 40 home runs, 106 RBIs, and a batting average of 0.306, which is the best in the Central League. His slugging percentage is 0.609 and the overall offensive index (OPS) is 0.991. However, Sato has struck out 164 times in a single season, ranking second in the Central League.

Teruaki Sato helped the Hanshin team achieve two consecutive Central League championships for the first time in its history, and won the offensive triple crown that had not been seen in team history for 40 years.

In the past, three members of the Hanshin Tigers came to the United States through the admission system, namely Kei Ikawa, Shintaro Fujinami, and Kohiro Aoyagi. Teruaki Sato is the fourth player in the history of Hanshin to challenge the major leagues through the admission system.

Teruaki Sato said through the Hanshin Football Team, "This time the team respects my ideas, and I am deeply grateful for it. During my time with the Hanshin Tigers, I had a great time spending every day with my teammates, and I sincerely thank the fans for their continued enthusiastic support. Please continue to cheer for me in the future."

In addition, according to an article written by Christopher Kline, a writer for the American sports website "FanSided", Teruaki Sato is expected to receive a three-year contract worth US$75 million (approximately NT$2.38 billion), and named the Yankees as his possible new club. The article pointed out that the Yankees need an infielder with long-hitting ability, and the team has enough financial resources to be willing to take a risk on Sato's amazing talent.