Keita Sano

Keita Sano (佐野 恵太)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 185 lb.

• School Meiji University
• High School Koryo High School

• Born November 28, 1994 in Okayama, Okayama Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Keita Sano has played in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Sano was drafted by the Yokohama BayStars in the 9th round of the 2016 NPB draft. He debuted on March 31, 2017, and collected his first career hit off Shunta Wakamatsu on April 8. Sano only played 18 games and recorded a 2-for-21 in his career year. He joined the Asia Winter Baseball League in the end of 2017 season and named as the MVP of that ecircuit. Sano mainly pinch-hit in 2018, when he recorded a .230/.246/.381 batting line with 5 dingers. Sano broke out in 2019 and batted .295/.344/.420, with 5 homers again. He was named the captain of the Baystars this year.

When Yoshi Tsutsugo left the team to join the Tampa Bay Rays, Sano was named to carry on the clean-up hitter spot by manager Alex Ramirez. The Okayama native met the team's need perfectly. He batted .328/.395/.532 with 20 home runs and 69 RBI. Sano led the league in batting average, ranked 4th in hits (132, 14 behind Yohei Ohshima), 7th in homers, 8th in RBI and 6th in OPS. He also won his first Best Nine award as an outfielder, gained CL-most 260 votes. He was the lowest draft pick who won a batting title in NPB.

Sano extended his good condition in 2021. Replacing Teruaki Sato late in 2021 NPB All-Star Game 1, he was struck out by Naoya Masuda when the bases were loaded. Takumu Nakano still drove in the game-winning RBI by a walk for the Central League. In Game 2, Sano was the starting left fielder, but he didn't record any hits. He was retired by Hiroya Miyagi in the 2nd inning, he had flyout against Yuki Tsumoni in the 5th and was forced to hit a ground ball by Takahiro Norimoto in the 7th inning. He ended up with a .303/.376/.466 batting line with 17 dingers and career-high 72 RBI this year. He was 2nd in hits (13 behind Chikamoto), 7th in BA, runs and RBI this year.

He was again an All-Star in 2022. In Game 1, he was the starting designated hitter, but flew out twice, against Taisuke Yamaoka and Keisuke Honda. Yuhei Nakamura replaced him in the 7th inning. In Game 2, he replaced Adam Walker in the 7th, hitting a single off Takayuki Kishi that inning but was retired by Livan Moinelo in the 9th. Sano batted .306/.362/.491 with 22 homers and 72 RBI in 2022, and won the Best Nine award again. He had 181 votes, the second highest point for CL outfielders (behind Koji Chikamoto). Sano led the league in hits with 161 (tied with Yuki Okabayashi), ranked 6th in batting average, 5th in OPS, 6th in slugging and 10th in home runs.