Kazuma Okamoto Is Coming To Major League Baseball, But Who Is He & What Can He Do?

With the MLB Winter Meetings just a few short weeks away, teams and players alike are readying themselves for significant moves. This year’s class of free agents features a strong mix of All-Star caliber regulars, role players looking to extend their careers, and a handful of intriguing international free agents. 

One of the premier names making the transition from Japan to Major League Baseball this offseason is Kazuma Okamoto. According to Nikkan Sports (Japanese language link), the star slugger is reportedly set to be posted on Wednesday. While he probably won’t fetch a mega deal like his countrymen Munetaka Murakami or Tatsuya Imai, the former NPB star will surely snag a sizable multiyear contract. 

Here’s what teams and fans can expect from Okamoto. 

Productive Power Hitter
Okamoto has been one of the most consistent power hitters in NPB since debuting in 2018. He hit 30 or more home runs in six consecutive seasons leading up to his 2024 campaign (where he still hit 27 bombs on the year), and was on pace to do so again in 2025 before missing half of the season with an elbow injury. His swing produces great strength to the pull side, specifically, but he has also shown a penchant for using his quick hands to go to the opposite field, albeit with less consistent power. 

His batting stance is noteworthy in that he loads his hands very deep and higher than most hitters, especially those with his type of power profile. It should be noted that hitters in Japan have far less exposure to high-velocity fastballs, which tends to diminish their projections as players come over to fastball-heavy MLB pitching. So there might be some natural concern about his ability to get the same results stateside. Still, to his credit, Okamoto actually improved against fastballs that were thrown 95-plus MPH in limited action in 2025. If he can prove that he can maintain that ability to get the bat around on inside heaters, while still showing his high-contact ability against other offerings, he will be a force in the middle of a lineup. 

Versatile Fielder… For Now
The 29-year-old should get a boost in free agency thanks to his experience playing third base, first base, and left field in Japan. Most of his playing time has come at the hot corner, but evaluators are skeptical that his fit there will remain as he heads into his thirties. He received the NPB equivalent of the Gold Glove award as a third baseman in 2021 and 2022, thanks to his strong instincts, quick hands, and ability to play there every day as a 25 and 26-year-old. But his range has diminished in the last couple of seasons (especially to his glove side), and his arm has never been a standout feature of his defense. 

Okamoto played a good amount of first base with the Yomiuri Giants, and a full-time move to that position might be in the cards sooner rather than later. Still, it’s reasonable to expect a signing team to give him every opportunity to see if he can stick at third in 2026. At the end of the day, Okamoto’s bat is his calling card, and if playing him at third base allows the team to put another strong slugger at first base, he could be a hot commodity on this year’s market. Look for his long-term future to be as a first baseman with regular reps as a designated hitter. 

Contract Size
Okamoto will be paid in the coming weeks. His agent, Scott Boras, will make sure of it. MLB Trade Rumors projected his deal to be in the neighborhood of $64 million over four years. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the actual figure balloon to the $75-80 million range, with a possible fifth guaranteed year being the kicker. 

Okamoto will benefit from the fact that there are bound to be multiple big-market teams seeking a boost in the corner infield, such as the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox. This year’s free agent market features star corner infielders such as Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, and Eugenio Suarez, as well as Josh Naylor, who just agreed to a five-year deal with the Seattle Mariners worth $92.5 million. All four of those players feature stellar power with their bats, but teams may look to Okamoto as their best fallback option once the top names land. 

A team that signs Okamoto will also be subjected to paying a posting fee for his services, which would likely cost them an extra $12-15 million on top of his contract amount. The fee is $9.375 million for the first $50 million of Okamoto’s deal, plus 15% of any amount spent above that. So the posting fee for his projected $64 million deal would be $11.5 million. 

Could that limit his market? Possibly, but at that level, teams might be more willing to dole out the posting fee to secure his services. With the success of recent players who have transitioned from NPB to MLB, many teams may view this part of the market as far more lucrative than it was five years ago. And if Okamoto can carry over his success as he comes stateside, he could be well worth the investment. 

What do you think? What will it take for a team to sign Kozuma Okamoto? Would he be a fit for your team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and as always, stay sweet.