Two more star Japanese players are set to join Major League Baseball.
Corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto of the Yomiuri Giants and right-handed pitcher Kona Takahashi of the Saitama Seibu Lions have were posted on Nov. 20 by their teams in Nippon Professional Baseball. Their 45-day window in which MLB teams will be able to negotiate with and sign them will open at 5 p.m. ET on Friday.
Okamoto, 29, is a six-time NPB All-Star best known for his power − hitting at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons from 2018-2023. He also homered twice in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, including a solo blast in Japan’s 3-2 victory over Team USA in the championship game.
Okamoto played in just 69 games in 2025 due to an elbow injury, but managed to slash .327/.416/.598 with 15 home runs. He can slot in at first or third base.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Takahashi posted a 3.04 ERA over 148 innings last season for the Lions. He is not an overpowering pitcher, averaging 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 2025. He was much more effective during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, with a combined 2.20 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 330 2/3 innings.
Okamoto and Takahashi join right-hander Tatsuya Imai and slugger Muneteka Murakami as Japanese players who have been posted this offseason.