Toronto Blue Jays Sign Japanese Pitcher Kazuma Okamoto
The Toronto Blue Jays have made a major addition to their pitching roster with the signing of Japanese right-hander Kazuma Okamoto. The 26-year-old has agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the team, pending a physical.
Okamoto has spent the past six seasons playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. In 2020, he posted a 2.91 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched. He also helped lead the Fighters to the Japan Series championship in 2016.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins expressed his excitement about adding Okamoto to the team, stating, “We are thrilled to have Kazuma join the Blue Jays organization. He brings a wealth of experience and talent to our pitching staff and we believe he will be a valuable asset to our team.”
Okamoto is known for his fastball, which can reach up to 97 mph, as well as his slider and changeup. He is expected to compete for a spot in the Blue Jays’ starting rotation, which has been a weak spot for the team in recent years.
This signing is part of the Blue Jays’ efforts to strengthen their pitching staff and compete for a playoff spot in the highly competitive American League East division. The team also recently signed veteran pitcher Tyler Chatwood and re-signed Robbie Ray.
Okamoto is the latest in a string of Japanese players to join the Blue Jays, following in the footsteps of stars like Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani. His addition to the team is also expected to help expand the Blue Jays’ fan base in Japan.
The Blue Jays are set to begin their 2021 season on April 1 against the New York Yankees. With the addition of Okamoto, fans are eagerly anticipating what the team will bring to the field this year.
