Star Japanese pitcher will be first female in the league and Canada
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| Japan's Ayami Sato pitches during a pre-season game at Christie Pits on May 4. |
One of the popular streaming services hosts a sports drama called Pitch. First aired in 2016, the show explored the scenario of a woman playing for a men’s major league baseball team.
This summer at Christie Pits, fantasy will become reality.
The Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League made international headlines when they announced the signing of Ayami Sato, one of the world’s greatest female baseball players.
Sato, 35, has pitched in the Japan Women’s Baseball League since 2013 and helped Japan win six straight Women’s Baseball World Cups – the highest level of international competition in the women’s game. In three of those tournaments, she was named Most Valuable Player.
When she takes the field this summer, Sato will become the first female to play in the IBL and the first in Canadian pro baseball history.
“We’re really in new waters here,” said Keith Stein, CEO of the ownership group that bought the Leafs in 2023. “Think about that moment: [Sato] facing her first hitter in the IBL. There’s a lot riding on that moment. A very powerful moment, maybe a bit nerve-wracking.”
How that anticipated moment came about is surprisingly straightforward.
Stein and fellow ownership group member Andreas Kloppenborg like to bounce ideas off each other. One day last year, they were discussing how to enhance the fan experience at Christie Pits. Stein wondered why the Leafs didn’t have any females involved in managing or coaching the team. Kloppenborg went a step further and wondered why they didn’t have any female players. He identified Sato and contacted her. Interest was expressed, conversations took place and the signing came together quickly.
According to Stein, Sato is very excited about the opportunity. He is confident that her pedigree on the mound will translate to success in Toronto.
“People will be really impressed by her ability to mow down men in the IBL.”
Interest in Sato’s arrival has the Leafs discussing the production of a documentary, with cameras and sound people following her journey.
“This is an incredible moment for women’s sport,” Stein said.
As for her new teammates on the Leafs, Stein says they are supportive and intrigued.
Last season, the Leafs finished in seventh place and were swept in the first round of the postseason. Improvement on the field will be welcome, with Sato playing an important role beyond the hype of history. The team roster continues to take shape and the club has begun announcing signings on social media.
One key announcement was that veteran pitcher Dustin Richardson will take on additional responsibilities as general manager, heading the club’s baseball operations.
A former major leaguer who pitched for the Boston Red Sox, Richardson will play a role in providing mentorship to Sato as she adjusts to her new surroundings.
Also joining the club as a senior advisor is Cito Gaston, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays to their two World Series victories in 1992 and 1993. Gaston will assist the club on the baseball side of things and make some public appearances during the season.
Longtime fans will notice a shakeup in the team schedule. In 2025, the Leafs will play fewer Sunday afternoon home games. Two-thirds of the schedule will be night games, spread over Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
The change is part of a strategy to attract more people to the Pits. Names like Sato and Gaston are sure to draw serious baseball followers, but Stein and co. also want to attract casual fans looking for a fun evening.
“We are very committed to what happens around the field,” Stein said.
The upgraded fan experience initiated last year will continue. There will be giveaways and promotions, enhanced food and drink options, and merchandise sales.
Games will continue to be free. A new ticketed seating area will be installed along the fence on the third base side of the park. It will offer enclosed, lounge-style seating for 50-75 people, a DJ, a mixologist and entertainment between innings. Come for the baseball, stay for the party, or vice versa.
“We’re just getting started,” Stein said. “This is like the first inning of the reinvention of the team.”
The Leafs’ season runs from May to August. Their home opener is scheduled for Sunday, May 11, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits.
More information about the team can be found at www.mapleleafsbaseball.com.
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