Blue Jays get a big bat back into their lineup as World Baseball Classic wraps up

With the pomp and circumstance of the World Baseball Classic in the rearview mirror, the Toronto Blue Jays and their players can get back on task with the focus firmly laid on preparing for the 2026 season. As the Spring Training schedule enters it's final few days, it's important they have everyone back in camp and reacquainting themselves with one another before the marathon of a 162-game schedule begins.

One player who has returned is Kazuma Okamoto, who has officially rejoined the team after playing for Samurai Japan at the WBC, and he'll be in the lineup for Toronto in their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 18).

Okamoto back in the Blue Jays lineup after stint with Japan at WBC

Okamoto, who signed a four-year $60 million deal in January, and his Japanese teammates didn't have the tournament they expected to. They were one of the favourites of the WBC and many expected them to at least get to the finals, if not win the entire thing. But Japan came up short in their quest to repeat after their win in 2023, falling to the eventual champions, Team Venezuela, in the quarterfinals.

Okamoto went 4-for-19 in the five games he played in, starting at third base, the position he'll man for Toronto in 2026. He drove in a single run, while walking three times, with three strikeouts during the tournament. Most observers were marveling over his defensive skills more than anything during the tournament. Okamoto made a number of tough plays look easy and was very solid at the hot corner.

That's great news for the Blue Jays who mainly picked him up for his bat, and were keeping their options open as to where he could fit in defensively on the diamond. Okamoto spent most of his time in Nippon Professional Baseball playing at third and first while also spelling time in the outfield. But with the clear opening at third base this season for Toronto, it would do wonders for them to be able to rely on Okamoto to be the every day third baseman and not worry if his defens would cost them games.

In his four Spring Training games before leaving for the WBC, Okamoto went 3-for-9 with a massive home run in his first game. He impressed early in spring, he continued that at the WBC, and now that he's back with the Blue Jays for the remainder of their Grapefruit League schedule, it's a chance for Okamoto to endear himself even further to his new teammates and his new fan base. Okamoto will play third base and hit fifth when the Blue Jays take on their division rivals in Dunedin.