Kazuma Okamoto reaches an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays
The renowned Japanese batter and third baseman, Kazuma Okamoto, has reached a contractual agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to sources close to the matter.
The organization has not yet officially confirmed the transaction.
Okamoto, 29 years old, stood out as the main figure of the Yomiuri Giants, one of the most emblematic franchises of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
During his career in Japan, Okamoto established himself as a power hitter, participating in six All-Star Games and winning the Central League home run title three times (2020, 2021, and 2023).
Since his debut in 2018, at the age of 22, Okamoto recorded six consecutive seasons with at least 30 home runs, achieving a personal record of 41 home runs in 2023.
In defense, he can play both third base and first base, positions in which he won three Gold Gloves in Japan.
In the 2025 season, a left elbow injury limited his participation to 69 games, but he had an outstanding offensive performance with a .327 average, a 1.014 OPS, 15 home runs, and 49 RBIs.
In his 11 seasons in the NPB, Okamoto accumulated a batting line of .277/.361/.521, with 248 home runs and 717 RBIs.
In addition, he was a key element of the Japan team that won the 2023 World Baseball Classic, recording an OPS of 1.278 and hitting a home run in the final against the United States.
Okamoto was included in the posting system by the Yomiuri Giants, an unusual decision for a star in his prime, allowing him to fulfill his dream of playing in the Major Leagues starting in the 2026 season.
If the agreement is finalized, Okamoto would become the most recent impact player from Yomiuri to reach MLB, following in the footsteps of figures like Hideki Matsui.
