"After failing to land a star from the Pacific Rim the last couple of winters, the Blue Jays got their guy when they acquired Yomiuri Giants slugger Kazuma Okamoto. While most industry experts assume he'll be able to carry over his impressive skills at the plate, the one knock was on his defense. But as Spring Training gets underway and Okamoto starts to get into game shape, the first impressions are positive that those defensive worries won't linger into the coming season."
"Hall of Fame writer Jason Stark took in some of the sights and sounds at Blue Jays spring camp in Dunedin and got a good first look at one of the newest members of Toronto's club. His tweet was simple and should calm the nerves of Blue Jays fans who weren't so sure about Okamoto being given the every day job at third base. Stark's tweet said, "First impressions: soft hands.""
Kazuma Okamoto was acquired from the Yomiuri Giants as the Blue Jays' biggest offensive addition from overseas. Experts expect his hitting to translate to MLB, but defensive ability was the primary concern. Early spring training work at third base has produced positive first impressions, suggesting those defensive worries may fade as Okamoto gets into game shape. Observers noted soft hands on routine plays. Okamoto previously played first base, third base and some outfield in Japan. His defensive adaptation at the hot corner appears smoother than Bo Bichette's transition to third base with the Mets, which has included visible difficulty fielding ground balls.
Read at Jays Journal
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