Among the fantasy baseball community, it’s not just the next great thing that excites fans, but also the newest diamond that always seems to shine the brightest—even if that diamond is a complete unknown. Sometimes that unknown gem turns out to be Yamamoto, Ichiro, or even Ohtani. Other times, they end up being Hideki Irabu, Hyeseong Kim, or Kei Igawa.
This week, it was reported that another relatively unknown player to fantasy communities will be posted and likely added to the player pool. While we don’t yet know where he’ll play, conversations have already begun about where he should be drafted. NPB infielder Kazuma Okamoto will be posted for MLB clubs, according to an announcement made by the Yomiuri Giants and Okamoto himself during a press conference earlier this week.
The 29-year-old Okamoto comes with plenty of intrigue. He was the club’s captain as well as a six-time All-Star with two Gold Gloves and three NPB home run titles to his name. His 2025 season was limited to just 69 Central League games due to an elbow injury caused by a collision at first base, but he still managed an impressive .327/.416/.598 slash line. He blasted 15 homers, 21 doubles, and a triple in less than half a season, with identical 11.3% strikeout and walk rates.
Scouts have known his name since he was 22 years old. Okamoto has hit 274 home runs in 1,039 Central League games, averaging one every 16.2 plate appearances across eight seasons. His numbers compare favorably to Shohei Ohtani and Seiya Suzuki during their NPB careers.
Skeptics point out that Okamoto struggled against high-velocity fastballs, while others believe that could be due to limited exposure. Where he’s drafted—and how fantasy managers view him—remains to be seen, but he’s a gamble many will consider this offseason.