Kazuma Okamoto is not just another MLB Rookie

Japan's international baseball star Kazuma Okamoto is already double digits in home runs after his first 35 Major League Baseball (MLB) games.

After playing 1,074 games for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants in 11 Nippon Professional Baseball seasons, Okamoto, aged 29, agreed to a four-year contract with the Blue Jays worth US$60 million at the start of this year.

The Yomiuri Giants reportedly paid Okamoto the equivalent of US$4 million in 2025; thus, the deal with Toronto was lucrative for the infielder. Still, it doesn't quite match the level of the premium MLB sluggers. His contract and the fact that last season Okamoto played in only 69 NPB games due to injuries saw international media take a quieter approach than normal regarding his move to the MLB.

Okamoto had his first international experience at 20, representing Carolina in the Puerto Rican Professional League in 2016-2017. He started 27 games at third base and five at first base and posted a .357 batting average.

He was a late bloomer at NPB level with 2018 his breakout season. He hit 33 home runs and posted a .309 batting average. He hit 30+ home runs for the next five seasons, topping 41 in 2023. He played in six All-Star Games and was the Central League Climax Series MVP in 2019.

Okamoto helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic with a key solo home run in the championship game.

He is putting together solid defensive numbers for the Blue Jays, starting 33 games at third base, one at first and one at DH while playing one game out of the bench at first base.

Cover photo: MLB Photos via Getty Images