Spanish
UNITED STATES.– The stellar Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto, a prominent figure in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), has traveled to the United States to hold in-person meetings with Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations, according to Yahoo Japan.
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The move comes just days before the closing of his negotiation window, as Okamoto has until January 4 to reach an agreement with a Major League club. If his signing materializes, the player could join MLB for the 2026 season, so the next few days will be decisive for his professional future.During this offseason, the name of the 29-year-old player has been linked to several franchises, including the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, teams that would be evaluating his profile and projection.
Okamoto is widely recognized for his offensive power and consistency throughout his career with the Yomiuri Giants, one of the most emblematic organizations in Japanese baseball. In the 2025 season, he recorded a batting average of .327, with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.014 in 69 games, figures that reinforced his status as one of the best hitters in the NPB. The interest of several MLB teams reflects the high valuation of the player, whose offensive profile and international experience make him an attractive option in the winter market, especially given the growing influence of Japanese talent in the Major Leagues.
