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Kazuma Okamoto

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Kazuma Okamoto
Okamoto with the Yomiuri Giants in 2018
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 7
Infielder
Born: (1996-06-30) June 30, 1996 (age 29)
Gojō, Nara, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: August 28, 2015, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB: March 27, 2026, for the Toronto Blue Jays
NPB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.277
Home runs248
Runs batted in717
MLB statistics
(through May 10, 2026)
Batting average.248
Home runs10
Runs batted in26
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2023 Miami Team
WBSC Premier12
Silver medal – second place 2024 Team

Kazuma Okamoto (岡本 和真, Okamoto Kazuma; born June 30, 1996), is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants from 2015 to 2025, until moving to North America in 2026.

Early life

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Okamoto was born on June 30, 1996 in Gojō, Nara, Japan.[citation needed] Okamoto began playing catch with his older brother at around the age of three, and joined his first baseball team when he joined elementary school. From fourth grade to sixth grade, Okamoto was a pitcher and infielder, and batted cleanup for his little league team. In junior high school, Okamoto was able to throw pitches at 135 km/h (84 mph), standing 180 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall and weighed 83 kg (182 lbs).[1]

Amateur career

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High school

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Okamoto attended Chiben Gakuen for high school. He had planned to attend Chiben Gakuen since he was young, hoping to play in the Koshien for one of the most prestigious schools in his area.[2] He began his first year on the bench but became the team's cleanup hitter by fall.[3] He hit eight home runs in his first year, with Chiben Gakuen losing in the Nara prefectural tournament. In his second year of high school, Okamoto hit 48 home runs.[4]

In 2014, Okamoto first played in the Spring Koshien in his third and final year of high school. On his debut, Okamoto became the 19th player in the tournament's history to hit two home runs in a single game.[5] Chiben Gakuen fell in the second round of the tournament to Sano Nichidai. In the 2014 Nara prefectural tournament, Okamoto went 10-for-18, with three home runs.[5] In that year's Summer Koshien, Chiben Gakuen lost in their first round matchup, with Okamoto recording two hits and one run batted in (RBI).[6] He finished his high school career with 73 home runs.[3]

Professional career

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Yomiuri Giants

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Okamoto was selected by the Yomiuri Giants in the first round of the 2014 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft.[7] After being drafted, Okamoto signed a contract worth 12 million yen annually, with an 80 million yen signing bonus.[8]

Okamoto made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut with the Yomiuri Giants in 2015. He was selected as an NPB all-star six times, and was named the Central League Climax Series MVP in 2019. In 2020, he led the Central League in home runs and runs batted in (RBI).[9]

His nickname, "The Young General", was given to him and was adapted from his former manager, Tatsunori Hara.[10]

During the 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball season, Okamoto only played 69 games and hit 15 home runs, missing half the games after an elbow injury from colliding with another player.[11] Before that, from 2018-2024, he had consistently hit 25 homers or more. Okamoto has also led his league in home runs in three seasons.[11]

Toronto Blue Jays

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During the 2025-26 offseason, the Giants posted Okamoto to Major League Baseball.[12] On January 4, 2026, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract.[13] During his introductory press conference, Okamoto said that in addition to Toronto being a title contender as a reason for signing, he had asked his daughter to choose her favourite logo from among all the MLB teams, and she had picked out the Jays logo.[11] He hit his first home run against the Athletics on March 29, in a 5–2 win.[14]

International career

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Okamoto is also a member of the Japan national baseball team. He participated in the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series[15] and Japan's 2019 exhibition series against Mexico.[16]

Okamoto played for Japan at the 2014 Under-18 Asian Baseball Championship.[3]

At the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), Okamoto was a key part of Japan's championship win, scoring two runs and hitting a solo home run in the final against the United States.[11]

Okamoto played for Japan again at the 2026 WBC.[17] He had four hits in five games as Japan lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Venezuela.[18][19]

Personal life

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Okamoto has a wife and a daughter.[11][20][21]

Okamoto grew up in Nara as a fan of the Hanshin Tigers.[22]

Okamoto is a fan of Japanese rock group Southern All Stars, and listens to frontman Keisuke Kuwata's radio show on Tokyo FM.[21] He has used the Southern All Stars song "Kibo No Wadachi" as his walk-up song since his time with the Yomiuri Giants.[23] He is also a fan of K-pop group TWICE.[20]

In 2023, Okamoto was appointed as a tourism ambassador for his hometown of Gojō.[24]

References

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  1. ^ 高校野球ドットコム編集部 (March 19, 2014). "智辯学園高等学校　岡本 和真選手 (Kazuma Okamoto, Chiben Gakuen High School)". hb-nippon.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  2. ^ "【４番サードを継ぐ男・岡本和真】（上）小１で１６０センチ　小３で最速１００キロ　小４で４番 ([Kazuma Okamoto, the man who will inherit the cleanup hitter and third baseman position] (Part 1) 160cm tall in first grade, fastest pitch of 100km/h in third grade, cleanup hitter in fourth grade)". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). October 25, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c 株式会社スポーツニッポン新聞社マルチメディア事業本部 (2014). "2014年プロ野球ドラフト". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  4. ^ "【４番サードを継ぐ男・岡本和真】（下）敬遠攻めにも「堂々と」ゴジラ映像で覚醒 ([Kazuma Okamoto, the man who will take over the cleanup hitter and third baseman position] (Part 2) He "confidently" faces intentional walks and awakens with Godzilla footage)". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  5. ^ a b "甲子園デビュー２発／岡本アラカルト (Two home runs in Koshien debut / Okamoto's highlights)". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 2, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  6. ^ ""奈良の怪童"智弁学園・岡本、初戦で散る！２安打１打点も不発「悔いしかない」("Nara's prodigy," Okamoto of Chiben Gakuen, is eliminated in his first game! He had two hits and one RBI, but it was all for nothing. "I have nothing but regrets.")". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). August 16, 2014. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  7. ^ 一般社団法人日本野球機構. "読売ジャイアンツ 選択選手一覧 | 2014年 プロ野球ドラフト会議 supported by リポビタンＤ (Yomiuri Giants' Player Selection List | 2014 Professional Baseball Draft supported by Lipovitan D)". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  8. ^ "巨人 ドラ１岡本が仮契約「長打力をもっと伸ばしたい」(Giants' first-round draft pick Okamoto signs provisional contract: "I want to further improve my power hitting.")". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). November 19, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  9. ^ "Blue Jays officially announce Okamoto signing, DFA Schultz". Sportsnet. January 4, 2026. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  10. ^ "巨人・原監督、自らの愛称を岡本へ！若大将の心得「『将』という言葉をしっかり守って」(Giants manager Hara changes the nickname of Okamoto! The young general's motto: "I will firmly uphold the meaning of the word 'general'")". sanspo.com (in Japanese). February 22, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e Carter, Adam (January 6, 2026). "Kazuma Okamoto 'very happy' to join Blue Jays team with sights set on World Series title". CBC News. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  12. ^ Harrigan, Thomas (November 20, 2025). "Kazuma Okamoto to be posted for MLB teams". MLB.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Sources: Blue Jays, Japanese 3B Kazuma Okamoto reach $60M deal". ESPN.com website Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  14. ^ "Okamoto records first career big-league hit, scores winning run in Blue Jays' season opener". TSN. March 28, 2026. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  15. ^ "「2018日米野球」に出場する侍ジャパントップチーム選手全28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  16. ^ "ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019「日本 vs メキシコ」に出場するメンバー28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  17. ^ TSN (January 26, 2026). "Blue Jays' Okamoto to play for Japan at WBC". TSN. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  18. ^ "WBC Stats | WBC Team Stats | WBC Leaders". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  19. ^ Castillo, Jorge (March 15, 2026). "Venezuela rallies to stun Japan, advances to WBC semifinals". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  20. ^ a b "身辺警護のTWICE 岡本和真らも愛聴". BBNews.jp (in Japanese). December 20, 2019. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  21. ^ a b Saito, Yukata (February 13, 2020). "巨人岡本和真が語ったサザン愛。「ベストの1曲は選べない」(Yomiuri Giants player Kazuma Okamoto talks about his love for Southern All Stars: "I can't choose just one best song.")". bunshun.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  22. ^ "巨人・岡本、阪神戦「一番」燃える！「もともと阪神ファンなので」会場大爆笑 (Giants' Okamoto is most fired up for the game against the Hanshin Tigers! "I've always been a Hanshin fan," he said, drawing huge laughter from the crowd.)". daily.co.jp (in Japanese). January 9, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  23. ^ "Baseball Walk-Up Songs 2025 | Toronto Blue Jays". MLB.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  24. ^ 日本放送協会 (April 17, 2023). "巨人 岡本和真選手 地元五條市の観光大使に就任 (Yomiuri Giants player Kazuma Okamoto appointed as tourism ambassador for his hometown, Gojo City)". NHK NEWS WEB (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
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