Genei Sato, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher who once touched 159 km/h, is making an unconventional move by transferring from Sendai University to Penn State University in the United States. In an exclusive interview, he revealed the reasoning behind his bold decision, as he sets his sights on the 2026 MLB Draft.
Once he sets his mind on something, he never wavers. Driven by an extraordinary level of conviction, Sato has chosen a path few have trodden before. “Since I was young, my father always told me, ‘If you’re going to do something halfway, don’t do it at all.’ I’ve never liked doing things halfway either. If I’m going to do it, I’m going all the way,” he said with intensity.
His decision to leave Sendai University for Penn State in the Big Ten Conference was simple in purpose. “It’s all for the sake of velocity, which I’ve been chasing since I was a kid. Overseas pitchers throw harder, and I believe this is the best environment to pursue becoming the fastest Japanese pitcher ever,” he explained.
Sato has long enjoyed watching highlight reels of MLB pitchers and drawn inspiration from their mechanics, fueling his dream of playing abroad. His participation in last summer’s U.S.-Japan Collegiate Baseball Championship also pushed him forward. In that tournament, he appeared in relief in three of five games, helping Japan secure a third consecutive title. Facing top American hitters with his fastball gave him confidence. “Competing against the best U.S. players showed me my fastball can be effective. Interacting with those players also made me believe I can make it over there,” he said, leaving no room for doubt.
Multiple top NCAA Division I programs pursued Sato, but he chose Penn State partly because of its strong reputation for pitching development. The coaching staff includes a pitching coach who helped develop players like Emmet Sheehan of the Dodgers and Michael King of the Padres. “They support me in maximizing my performance, including analyzing my mechanics and movement patterns. I have many things to work on, but I’m not worried. I’m excited to learn from them,” Sato said. The combination of advanced training facilities and expert guidance has only strengthened his desire to refine his fastball and reach higher levels.
His obsession with velocity dates back to third grade, when he first picked up a baseball. “As a kid, I figured if you throw hard, they can’t hit it. From my very first catch, I wanted to throw fast,” he recalled. He constantly questioned how to throw harder, often devising his own training methods.
Sato’s journey has not been a straight line of elite success. In junior high, he could already throw 138 km/h, but struggled with control and spent much of his time on the bench. Even when games passed him by, he refused to compromise. “I play baseball because I enjoy throwing fast. If I changed my approach just to fit in, I thought I wouldn’t grow,” he said, sticking to his principles. He never felt drawn to attend a powerhouse high school to aim for Koshien. Instead, he trained hard at Aomori’s Hakugin Agricultural High School, focused solely on throwing harder each day.
From college onward, he dedicated himself to building a solid foundation, and results began to show in his second year, quickly unleashing his talent. His control stabilized, and he reached a personal best of 159 km/h. Still, he admits he’s far from finished. “I only started feeling comfortable aiming down the middle and letting it rip around the spring of my junior year,” he said, hinting at ample room for growth. His relentless pursuit of velocity never fades. He has approached other top college flamethrowers—like Aichi Institute of Technology’s 160 km/h pitcher (now with Yakult), and Tohoku Fukushi University’s 160 km/h pitcher (now with Seibu)—to ask, “How do you throw so fast?” That’s how obsessed he is with speed.
“Striking someone out with a fastball feels great. I always want to throw a fastball they can’t even touch. Sure, I could throw 140 or 145 km/h to hit the zone and maybe beat hitters, but that’s boring to me. Even if I lose control, I’d rather go all out at 150 km/h or more. Breaking my own max is more rewarding. I’ve always chased that,” he said.
With such a clear goal, the label of “top candidate for the NPB draft” this fall doesn’t faze him. “I’ve mostly taught myself about fastball mechanics, so I want to learn a lot at Penn State and throw 165 km/h, the fastest for a Japanese pitcher,” he stated. Though transferring mid-college is highly unusual, he remains unfazed. “I understand some people may criticize me, but I’m just doing what I love. Japan’s level is high, but the environment in the U.S. is better for increasing velocity. I don’t dislike Japan or look down on it at all,” he clarified.
Sato has already joined Penn State. While official games won’t begin until the spring of 2027, he’s participating in training and scrimmages, fully focused on improvement. Surprisingly, he remains open about his future beyond graduation. “I dream of becoming a pitcher who can succeed in MLB and play in the World Series. But first, I want to focus on velocity and take a shot at being a first-round pick. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll prepare for the NPB draft next fall,” he said.
Whether he ends up in MLB or NPB will depend on his performance. Longer term, he envisions representing Japan again in international tournaments like the WBC. The top Japanese college pitcher is following his own path, one pitch at a time.
**Genei Sato**
Born December 17, 2004, in Kuroishi, Aomori Prefecture. Started baseball in third grade with the Botan-daira Blue Hawks. Attended Kuroishi Junior High and Hakugin Agricultural High School before entering Sendai University. Made the team in spring of his first year. Participated in the 2024 U.S.-Japan Collegiate Championship, contributing to Japan’s third straight title. Has an older and a younger brother. Hobbies include weight training and spending time in nature like actor Masahiro Higashide. 180 cm, 90 kg. Right-handed pitcher and right-handed batter.
