Kazuma Okamoto: The Next Angels Third Baseman?
November 7, 2025 - Written by Alex Sukyas
That ball is GONE!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 22, 2023
Kazuma Okamoto with a solo homer and Japan extends their lead over USA!
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/65dlDyM69Z
Kazuma Okamoto, a 29-year-old third Baseman who has found success in the NPB, is set to be posted for MLB teams to sign. Okamoto has played for the Yomiuri Giants, who are regarded as the Yankees of Japanese baseball, for the past 11 seasons. In those 11 seasons, he’s batted .277 with a much higher .361 OBP. He’s also hit 248 career HRs, with his single-season high being 41 HRs in 2023. However, his NPB talent isn’t the main way you may know him. Okamoto was a driving force for Team Japan in the 2023 WBC, as we saw him hit a 3-run HR that would put Japan up 4-0 in the Quarterfinal vs Team Italy, and then a solo HR in the Championship vs Team USA that would extend Japan’s lead to 3-1, before they would go on and win the game 3-2. Overall, Okamoto would be a great fit for the Angels. The Angels certainly need a 3B since Anthony Rendon’s performance has gone down the drain since he signed his huge 2019 contract with the Angels. Okamoto would provide plate discipline, which was something the Angels really struggled with in 2025, as they had a league-high 27.1 strikeout % in 2025. Okamoto had an extremely low 11.3% strikeout % in the NPB in 2025.
While Okamoto would be a good fit in Anaheim, the Angels aren’t the only team expected to pursue him. The Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox have been linked to the third baseman, and other reports list the Padres, Mariners, Cubs, and Tigers as teams where he’ll be a fit. However, it was reported that Okamoto wants to play in Anaheim. Per Adam Dodge on the AngelsWin podcast, the Angels are Okamoto’s first choice, and he has advised his reps to start negotiating with the franchise. Overall, we’ll see where Okamoto ends up, although the Angels are starting to look like the top destination.
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