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What Kazuma Okamoto brings to the Blue Jays in 2026
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Photo credit: © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Jan 4, 2026, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 4, 2026, 04:35 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays continued their offseason spending spree by reportedly signing Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60-million contract on Saturday. 
Okamoto demonstrated many of the skills the Blue Jays value throughout his time with the Yomiuri Giants in the Nippon Professional Baseball league: making consistent contact at the plate, hitting for power, and being versatile on defense. 
The 29-year-old has been one of the NPB’s best hitters over the last five years, slugging at least 30 home runs every season from 2018 to 2023. An injury limited him to 69 games in 2025, but he still slashed .327/.416/.598 when healthy, while walking as many times as he struck out. 
Okamoto limits strikeouts while consistently getting the bat on the ball. Among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances in the NPB in 2025, his K-rate ranked in the 93rd percentile, while his zone-contact percentage was in the 69th percentile. 
While he might not project as an elite power bat in the MLB against much tougher pitching, Okamoto’s ability to get the ball in the air should help his production carry over. Few hitters in the NPB hit fly balls as consistently as he did last year. 
It’s easy to see how Okamoto’s skill set aligns with the Blue Jays’ hitting philosophy, but this pairing is a good match defensively, too. 
Okamoto predominantly split time between third and first base during his tenure with the Giants. However, he also has experience playing the outfield. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get time at all three of these positions with the Blue Jays in 2026. Third base appears as if it would be his primary position if the season started tomorrow. Andrés Giménez and Ernie Clement would play shortstop and second base, respectively, while Addison Barger would find himself patrolling right field as he did during the 2025 playoffs. 
However, Okamoto could find himself playing the outfield if the Blue Jays sign Bo Bichette to a new contract, with Barger and Clement competing for time at third base. He would likely compete with Barger (when not at the hot corner), Anthony Santander, and Nathan Lukes for opportunities in either of the corner positions. 
Regardless of where Okamoto plays, his ability to handle multiple positions is exactly what the Blue Jays look for in their players. He’ll also likely only need to field at an adequate level to justify being in the lineup, given how well his bat projects. 
Ultimately, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Okamoto hit around 20 home runs with an OPS in the high 700s this upcoming season while playing several positions. He’ll be more than worth his $15 million salary if he can do exactly that. 
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