Japanese pitcher Genei Sato signed with Penn State on Monday, December 22.
Sato, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher, is expected to enroll in Penn State classes this Summer and will join the Nittany Lions in Fall 2026 to compete in the 2027 season. Sato will be eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft.
Sato spent three years at Sendai University in Shibata, Japan. He is considered to be a potential first-round pick in the 2027 MLB Draft. Before deciding to pursue a college path, Sato was considered a top prospect in the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft.
While at Sendai University, Sato threw 170.1 innings while posting a 2.22 ERA. He averaged 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing six hits per nine innings and 3.3 walks per nine innings.
His fastball has been clocked between 94-97 mph while topping out at 99. He also features a splitter (88-91), slider (82-85) and curveball (71-74).
Sato competed for Japan in the US-Japan Collegiate All-Star Series last July. He served as the closer for the Japanese Collegiate National Team, recording 4.1 innings, allowing one run and striking out six.