Reinaldo Sato
Reinaldo Tsuguio Sato (Jiro)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 192 lb.
- Born October 25, 1980 in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo Brazil
Biographical Information[edit]
Reinaldo Sato is the brother of Renan Sato and Estevão Sato and son of Mitsuyoshi Sato and has been on the Brazilian national team. The Japanese Wikipedia lists him as being a nephew of Shigetaka Sato as well, making Shigetaka Mitsuyoshi's brother.
Sato was signed by the Yakult Swallows out of their Brazilian academy. As he counted as a foreign player, he and teammate Daniel Matsumoto decided to become naturalized citizens in 2003; unfortunately, that year he was let go by Yakult.
From 2004-2006, Sato played for Shidakkusu before moving to Yamaha in 2007.
In international events, Sato played for Brazil in the 1999 Pan American Games. In the 2003 Baseball World Cup, Sato was the top hitter for Brazil, which lost to Cuba by only one run and beat South Korea in a surprising 7th place finish. Reinaldo hit .324/.395/.622. He failed to make the All-Star team for the event even though he outhit Daisuke Kusano, who got the nod at second base. He was far less successful in the 2005 Baseball World Cup, hitting .206/.222/.294 while his brother took over the offense. In the 2006 COPABE qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics, Reinaldo hit .300/.391/.650, again playing a lead role for Brazil. In the 2007 Pan American Games, he went 2 for 8.
In the 2010 industrial leagues, he won Best Nine honors. He was Brazil's DH in the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, going 4 for 11 with a run and a RBI; only Leonardo Reginatto had a better average (by .219) for Brazil as they won a spot in the World Baseball Classic for the first time. He was 3 for 12 with a RBI in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. His 4th-inning single off Toshiya Sugiuchi scored Reginatto to tie the game against two-time defending champion Samurai Japan at 2; Brazil lost it in the 8th, though.
After his 10th season with Yamaha, Sato was back in a Brazilian uniform for the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. The veteran was 2 for 7 with a double, run and a RBI, finishing third on the team in slugging behind JC Muniz and Dante Bichette Jr.
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