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Toronto Blue Jays fans have Kazuma Okamoto’s daughter to thank for the team’s newest addition — at least in part.
Speaking for the first time in front of local reporters after coming to terms with the team on a four-year, $60-million US contract, the 29-year-old slugger said at a news conference in Toronto Tuesday that before signing, he put the logos of all 30 MLB teams in front of his daughter and asked her which one she liked most.
Thankfully for Canadian baseball fans, she pointed to the Jays’.
“Thank you very much for this opportunity. I am very happy to join Blue Jays,” Okamoto said in English, while also fielding questions through an interpreter.
“I will work hard every day and do my best for the team. Thank you for your support. … Go Blue Jays.”
A six-time all-star with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball, Okamoto provides a middle-of-the-order bat with some flexibility on the defensive end. He has won the Japanese league’s home run crown three times.
Okamoto also helped Japan win the World Baseball Classic in 2023, hitting a solo homer and scoring twice in a 3-2 victory over the United States in the championship game at Miami.
Speaking at the news conference, Blue Jays Manager Ross Atkins said the team was drawn to Okamoto because he performs well against all kinds of pitching — not just to make contact, but to drive the ball.
He could also help the organization from a defensive standpoint in several ways, Atkins said.
“To have this addition … is another significant step for this organization,” Atkins said. “We definitely got better today.”
Okamoto hit .327 last season with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 69 games. The six-foot, 212-pound infielder missed over half the season with an elbow injury.
He’ll likely slot in at third base but can spell off slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base as needed and also play left field.
His addition bodes well for a team that led the major leagues in batting average (.265) and on-base percentage (.333), was third in OPS (.760), but tied for 11th in homers (191).
Okamoto made his debut with the Giants in 2015. He hit 25 homers or more in seven straight seasons between 2018-24.
