The Blue Jays are back in the hunt for a Japanese pitching talent, and this time the name to watch is Shoki Oda.
Toronto is expected to meet with the 18-year-old prospect, according to Francys Romero, after Oda spent Thursday talking with several teams and is set for another round of meetings on Friday. The Blue Jays have made a habit of chasing top Japanese players, previously going hard after Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki before both ended up with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Toronto also pursued Tatsuya Imai last year before he signed with the Houston Astros.
Oda brings the kind of profile that gets teams moving. He was a first-round pick in the Nippon Professional Baseball Draft, but he plans to skip the NPB route and explore other options, either signing with an MLB club as an international free agent or heading to an American college.
The right-hander is listed at 6-foot-1, and his fastball has touched 97 mph. Michael Clair of MLB.com reported that Oda allowed one run and struck out seven Chinese Taipei hitters in the U-18 World Cup Qualifiers. He also showed a deep mix of secondary pitches, including a slider, curveball, changeup, splitter, and cutter.
For Toronto, this would not be a plug-and-play addition. Oda would be a developmental project, with the Blue Jays likely sending him through the minor leagues before he’s ready for the majors. That matters to Oda, too, because he’ll choose the place he believes can turn him into an ace.
The Blue Jays did land a Japanese star last offseason in Kazuma Okamoto, and the move paid off fast. Toronto’s third baseman hit 33 home runs and drove in 92 runs in his rookie season, quickly becoming the club’s top offensive producer.
There’s also the bigger picture. Landing players like Oda can help a team build a familiar presence in Asia, the way the Dodgers have. One player can open the door to a new audience and create fresh marketing opportunities.
Oda is far from a sure thing in the majors, but the tools are obvious. If Toronto gets him, it would be a low-risk swing with the chance for major upside, and he could become a valuable piece of the Blue Jays’ starting rotation.
Toronto won’t be alone in the chase. On Friday, Oda is also expected to meet with the St.
Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and New York Yankees. Romero also reported that he has already met with the Texas Rangers, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the New York Mets.
Oda can sign with any team on Jan. 15, 2027, when the international signing period opens. That date could change if a lockout wipes out the signing period.
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