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Examining the different ways the Blue Jays could use Kazuma Okamoto in 2026
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Aidan Sinclair
Jan 25, 2026, 18:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 25, 2026, 14:28 EST
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Many Blue Jays fans are still reeling at the thought of Bo Bichette on the New York Mets and Kyle Tucker spurning Toronto for a familiar foe in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kazuma Okamoto, otherwise known as “The Young General”, was not an expected offseason signing, yet he provides the exact offensive profile that fits the Blue Jays ‘ mould that could take away the sting of Bichette and Tucker signing elsewhere. 
Playing the majority of his career in the Nippon Professional Baseball League at first/third base, he is most likely to patrol the hot corner across from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who will be holding down the first base position for the foreseeable future.  Okamoto is an average defensive infielder, grading 40/80 per Fangraphs. With third base having some question marks heading into 2026 and a magnificent defensive pairing of Ernie Clement and Andres Gimenez up the middle, Okamoto will have an opportunity to earn full-time play at the hot corner. 
Named captain of the Yomiuri Giants back in 2023, Okamoto has hit for consistent average and power, posting a .274 batting average with 277 home runs across 11 seasons in Japan. For many superstar position players hailing from the NPB, the question remains: can they hit velocity?
Success in other leagues doesn’t translate to immediate success in the big leagues. For example, Yoshi Tsutsugo hit .278 with a .899 OPS in the NPB across 12 seasons, though in his short three-year stint in MLB, he posted an average below the Mendoza line at .197. 
With Okamoto, there is reason to believe that his skills will translate.
Highlights of him hitting home runs against established World Series vets and fellow big leaguers Yoshinobu Yamoto and Roki Sasaki have circulated on the internet, proving his ability to hit consistent velocity. The other prized free-agent signing from Japan this offseason, Munetaka Murakami, is known to struggle against high-velocity fastballs, though this isn’t the case with Okamoto. His .289 average against 93mph+ projects well for MLB standards, and he has already shown he can compete with the best in the world. 
In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Okamoto hit .333 with a 1.278 OPS, clubbing two home runs along the way against some of the best pitching in the world. One thing is clear with Okamoto: he can hit the baseball extremely well, though he has shown a tendency to hit better against left-handed pitching.
In 2025, he posted a 263 WRC+ against southpaws, triumphing over the 186 mark he posted against right-handers. His entire career, he has demonstrated a superior ability to mash lefties, and with the Blue Jays’ infield depth, there is a possibility he becomes a platoon option in 2026. 

Okamoto on the field

While we know what Okamoto can do at the plate, the question remains: how will the Blue Jays use Okamoto in 2026?
General manager Ross Atkins noted during the Okamoto press conference that they plan to use him as an utility player, which could see him across the diamond in 2026.
The Blue Jays could use his services at the hot corner when righties are on the mound, moving Okamoto to a bench/pinch hit role late in games. An off day for Guerrero could see Okamoto shift to first base on occasion, as he now becomes the de facto backup option on the depth charts. 
Should Okamoto find himself at third base for the majority of the season, Addison Barger is likely to see more playing time in right field in 2026 as a result. Ernie Clement, who spent most of the 2025 season at third base, likely becomes the go-to second baseman following Bichette’s departure, with Andres Giminez sliding over to shortstop. 
Okamoto can also be used in the corner outfield spots, although he boasts limited experience in the outfield (mainly left field) during his time in Japan. There’s also the odd time where Okamoto could see some time in the DH spot, but that is George Springer/Anthony Santander’s territory for the time being.
The 29-year-old rookie has some intriguing bat-to-ball abilities with the potential to hit 25+ home runs in any given season. He averaged nearly 31 per year in his last eight seasons in the NPB, and Jays fans should be excited to see him produce near the middle of the lineup.
Since Matt Chapman left the team in 2023, they have been searching for an everyday third base option, and this year, Okamoto will have the opportunity to earn that duty should he perform. Jays fans must also share their gratitude for his daughter, who picked the Jays as his free agent destination this offseason. Look for Kazuma Okamoto to make a very good first impression come Spring Training.

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