The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants have approved Kazuma Okamoto's posting system challenge to Major League Baseball, making him the third player in the team's history to do so.

The NPB Tokyo Yomiuri Giants have approved their main infielder, 29-year-old Kazuma Okamoto, to challenge MLB via the posting system. Team general manager Yoshimura Sadaaki confirmed, "We have decided to allow him to use the posting system to negotiate with Major League Baseball teams."

Kazuma Okamoto stated, "I appreciate President Yamaguchi, Manager Abe, the team, and the fans for supporting my choice."

At the last offseason contract press conference, Okamoto openly admitted that playing in MLB has been his lifelong dream and a key career goal. To pursue this, he signed with renowned agent Scott Boras and held multiple discussions with the team, which ultimately respected the wishes of their core player.

Notably, just one day earlier (October 21), Okamoto had denied media reports about using the posting system, saying, "I haven't said anything," and noted that such a move requires team approval and is not solely his decision. This official announcement sharply contrasts with his statement from the previous day.

Okamoto was drafted first overall by the Yomiuri Giants in 2014 and has been a regular starter since 2018. Over his 11 years with the Giants, he has hit 248 home runs and driven in 717 RBIs. Up until last season, he served as the team captain and was a central figure in the Giants' lineup.

Previously, the Giants only allowed two players to challenge MLB through the posting system: pitcher Shun Yamaguchi in 2019 and pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano in 2020 (Sugano ultimately stayed with the team). Kazuma Okamoto is thus the third player in the franchise's history to do so.