Kazuma Okamoto, one of many high sluggers in Japan, introduced Wednesday that he’s making himself out there to Main League Baseball golf equipment through the posting system.
“I consider MLB is the very best league on the earth, and I’ve at all times wished to play there. I’ve labored laborious with that purpose in thoughts,” Okamoto mentioned. “I am grateful to all of the workforce officers and followers who revered my choice and gave me their help.”
Okamoto, 29, is a right-handed-hitting nook infielder for Japan’s Yomiuri Giants, clubbing a career-high 41 house runs in 2023 as a part of a six-season run of 30 house runs or extra.
His previous two seasons have been much less productive. Okamoto hit 27 house runs in 2024 earlier than accidents took their toll in 2025, limiting him to fifteen lengthy balls over 69 video games.
Memorably, Okamoto starred on the worldwide stage in the course of the 2023 World Baseball Basic championship recreation, when he took Group USA’s Kyle Freeland deep as Japan received the WBC title.
Over his profession, Okamoto is .277/.361/.521 hitter.
As soon as he turns into out there, Okamoto will have the ability to negotiate with any MLB workforce over a 45-day window. If a workforce reaches an settlement with him, that membership would wish to pay a launch price to Yomiuri. The price begins at 20 p.c of the contract worth and will rise relying upon the value of the agreed-upon contract.
Okamoto is one season away from qualifying for unrestricted free company.
–Discipline Stage Media
