TORONTO -- If we learned one thing about Kazuma Okamoto on Tuesday, it’s that the man can draw a crowd.
Packed inside the Blue Jays’ press conference room, it looked like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had signed his extension again as cameras spilled off their usual perch at the back of the room to fill every inch of available space. A dozen Japanese reporters filled the seats in front of the podium, outnumbering the local crowd.
If you didn’t know already, now you do: Okamoto is a big deal.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Kazuma Okamoto,” the 29-year-old said in English to open. “Thank you very much for this opportunity. I am very happy to join the Blue Jays. I will work hard every day and do my best for the team. Thank you for your support. Nice to meet you. Go Blue Jays.”
The Blue Jays are getting more than just Okamoto with this four-year, $60 million deal. The former Yomiuri Giants slugger brings power and an offensive profile that will fit this lineup beautifully, but the Blue Jays have added more than a ballplayer. They’ve finally landed their slice of the Japanese market in a star even more beloved and respected in his home country than the dollars of this deal suggest. There’s an aura to Okamoto.
Spring Training will be packed with cameras and reporters from Japan, too, similar to the crush of media attention the Blue Jays got from Korea after landing Hyun Jin Ryu back in 2019. The Blue Jays have been fighting for a piece of this market for years -- from Shohei Ohtani to Roki Sasaki and others -- but Okamoto represents a perfect marriage for them at last, making baseball and business sense at the same time.
The Blue Jays had a little help on the inside, too. If you’re excited about the Okamoto signing, hug a graphic designer today.
“First of all, I love the city of Toronto and the team is very strong, so I thought that there was a lot of support there, but there was one thing that stuck in my mind,” Okamoto said through interpreter Gino Gordon. “I put all 30 logos in front of my daughter and said, ‘Which one do you like the most?’ She pointed at the Blue Jays.”
Where better than Toronto for a Japanese star? This organization has grown a reputation as one of the best in baseball -- “state of the art” as agent Scott Boras put it Tuesday -- and has received especially strong reviews for how it cares for players and their families, which feels particularly important for a player making such a significant move. The Blue Jays are on the short list of World Series favorites for 2026. The stadium and facilities are top notch. Okamoto felt some of this watching that run in October.
“I was very, very impressed by the play, but more so, I was impressed by the fans, how they cheered loudly and how there is so much love for the Blue Jays,” Okamoto said. “I didn’t even think or really understand the possibility that I would be able to play in such an amazing location and team.”
Okamoto said all of the right things in his introduction, expressing his willingness to play where he can to help the team. Third base feels like the obvious fit for now, perhaps with the odd day at first when Vladdy needs time off his feet, but the clear appeal here is Okamoto’s bat.
He’s hit 30-plus home runs six times in Japan, peaking at 41 in 2023. His overall approach has “Blue Jays” written all over it. Looking back, this should have been such an obvious fit all along.
“He’s had an incredible career thus far with his impact on both sides of the ball,” said general manager Ross Atkins. “The offensive ability is as dynamic as it comes and fits us very well. The contact ability against high velo and against all types of pitching -- really any type of pitching -- he’s been able to drive the ball, which is about as good a compliment as we could ask for. We’re set up so that he could impact our organization from a defensive standpoint in several ways and we’ll continue to have that dialogue, but his openness to putting the team first is extremely attractive.”
Speaking for 30 minutes, everything about Okamoto felt like a perfect fit.
The Blue Jays represent an entire country of baseball fans, and they’re all watching. Okamoto represents another, and now they’ll all be watching, too.