The Yomiuri Giants announced Wednesday that heavy-hitting infielder Kazuma Okamoto will be posted this winter to fulfill his desire of playing in Major League Baseball.
The 29-year-old Okamoto is a six-time NPB All-Star and was a member of the Japan team that won the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“We felt that the team would like to support and encourage him in pursuing his dream and give him the opportunity to try his luck,” Giants general manager Sadaaki Yoshimura said.
A native of Gojo, Okamoto was limited to only 69 games with the Giants this past season with an elbow injury. He batted .327 with 82 hits, 15 home runs, 49 runs batted in and an OPS of 1.014.
“It’s the world’s best competition,” Okamoto said of the MLB. “I’ve been working hard with the singular goal of playing there.”
In 1,074 career games over 11 seasons with the team, Okamoto is a .277 hitter with 1,089 hits, 248 home runs, 717 runs batted in and an OPS of .882.
Okamoto will join Tokyo Yakult Swallows superstar Munetaka Murakami, whose posting has still yet to be confirmed, but is widely expected, as two of the best available international free agents this winter.