With Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays are getting both floor and ceiling

"A strong bat-to-ball hitter who ran Z-Contact rates of over 90% with a chase rate of 24% is a fantastic combination. Immediately, you have the baseline of a solid pure hitter, but then you factor in his 92.4 MPH average exit velocity and a max of 112.2 exit velocity, and you have the makings of an above-average power bat as well, who hits the ball at ideal launch angles."

"Okamoto's ability to maximize his damage profile on flyballs is what sets him apart from other hitters in NPB. While his exit velocities are more in the 55 grade tier rather than truly elite, he maximizes his output by pulling the vast majority of the balls he hits in the air. In fact, nobody in Japan's top league amongst qualified hitters pulled the ball in the air more often than Okamoto since the beginning of the 2024 season."

Kazuma Okamoto, 29, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays after eight seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He produced elite contact rates—Z-Contact over 90% and a 24% chase rate—combined with a 92.4 MPH average exit velocity and a max of 112.2 exit velocity. He pulls flyballs at the highest rate among qualified NPB hitters since 2024, creating an Isaac Paredes-like profile with frequent hard contact and above-average power. Okamoto's production and Yomiuri pedigree enhance Toronto's recruitment appeal in the Pacific Rim and provide a middle-of-the-order bat capable of transitioning to MLB pitching. He offers a combination of bat-to-ball skills and pull-based flyball power that projects as an immediate middle-lineup upgrade.

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