Kazuma Okamoto, a key power hitter for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball, is set to challenge Major League Baseball.

Kazuma Okamoto, the main slugger for the Yomiuri Giants in NPB, plans to pursue an MLB opportunity through the posting system after the season. His agent, Scott Boras, known as the "vampire agent," confidently stated that Okamoto’s combination of hitting, power, and solid defense gives him a strong chance to succeed in the majors.

Okamoto has been the Giants’ regular cleanup hitter since 2018, securing a starting role. Over his 11 years with the team, he has hit 248 home runs and driven in 717 runs. This season, despite a lengthy absence due to a left elbow ligament injury, he played 69 games with a .327 batting average, 15 home runs, and 49 RBIs, demonstrating his impact. He is expected to begin discussions with the team regarding his MLB challenge soon.

Okamoto’s agent Scott Boras remarked that, like Seibu pitcher Tatsuya Imai, they must wait for the posting process to begin. Both players are highly valuable, and if signed, would greatly enhance any MLB team’s roster. Boras hopes the Giants will approve their posting requests.

Regarding the Giants’ approval of Okamoto’s posting, Scott Boras analyzed: "He combines defense, hitting skill, and power. In NPB, players with high strikeout rates often struggle in MLB, but Okamoto’s ability to hit the ball squarely, along with his power and defense, makes me believe he has a very good chance to succeed." On pursuing a long-term contract, he emphasized: "Of course, I will do everything possible to achieve what Okamoto himself desires," showing strong confidence in future negotiations.