Blue Jays May Have Found Their Missing Piece in Kazuma Okamoto
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The Toronto Blue Jays have a real difference maker in the back half of the lineup, and it's been years in the making. Over 11 years in the NPB, Kazuma Okamoto smashed 248 home runs and posted a .882 OPS. Entering his age-30 season, he took a chance on Major League Baseball, in what may have been his final big opportunity.
Through four games, he's made the most of it. Not only has he smashed two homers, he owns a 1.178 OPS through his 18 plate appearances. Yes, this is a small sample size, but he's making a real difference in all aspects of his game.
On Sunday, Okamoto smashed his first big-league bomb of his career. On Monday, he made an incredible diving play at third base to rob Jordan Beck of an extra-base hit. The score was 9-1, Rockies in the seventh inning, but instead of a half-diving effort in a somewhat meaningless inning, Okamamoto had other plans.
Kazuma Okamoto Has Been As Advertised Through Four Starts in a Toronto Blue Jays Uniform
His play renewed life into a stagnant crowd of 35,490 at the Rogers Centre, and showcased his determination and effort despite a waning score.
The corner-infielder has spent three of his four games at third base this season, and it appears he'll stick there. His above-average defensive ability was displayed last night, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Okamoto is coming off a strong season in Japan, where he posted a .327/.416/.598 slash line over 69 games. He hit 15 homers and drove in 49 for the NPB's historically best team, the Yomiuri Giants.
The Giants have won 22 Nippon Championships since the team's inception in 1934. The runner-up has 13 championships. Playing for such an elite team for over a decade has brought tons of experience to Toronto, and he's on a team that's just as good.
Despite the Blue Jays being inches from winning the World Series last season, they came up just short. After all the emotion was laid to rest, it was time to figure out how to improve the team. General Manager Ross Atkins had a fantastic idea to improve third base, and then signed Okamoto.
Last season, Addison Barger spent a majority of the season at third base, but split time with Ernie Clement and Will Wagner. The Blue Jays brass thought Okamoto brought more to the table, and he's showcased that so far this season.
Thankfully, Toronto is just four games into his four-year, $60 million contract. There are plenty of years to come for the Japanese phenom, and his production will aid the Blue Jays on their quest for a second-straight American League Pennant.
Jeffrey is a sports writer located in Louisville, Kentucky, with a passion for sports, writing, and storytelling. He has hundreds of published articles across various platforms, including Kentucky Today, The Baptist Courier, FanSided, and more. Jeffrey is a senior at Indiana University Southeast pursuing a B.S. in Journalism/Media with a Minor in Writing. He has a beautiful wife, dog, and firstborn child on the way.