Kazuma Okamoto is making these Blue Jays’ failed pursuits look like a blessing

The halfway mark of the 2026 MLB season is almost in reach, and the Toronto Blue Jays continue to battle for a wild card spot in October, a situation that nobody envisioned by late-June. Although the concerns for the team continue to grow, one signing seems to generally sit well with Blue Jays fans. His name is Kazuma Okamoto, who currently leads the Blue Jays in home runs with 16 (going into Jun. 22).

Of course, that was initially met with some scrutiny, as it meant Toronto wouldn't reunite with Bo Bichette and would have to "settle" for Okamoto after Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for an enormous amount of money. Turns out, maybe "settling" with Okamoto was not the worst thing in the world.

Outperforming two highly coveted free agents wasn't on anybody's bingo cards

In his first year in MLB, Okamoto has been a saving grace for the Blue Jays as the team continues to look for a rhythm in a fairly weak American League. 75 games in, and Okamoto has 16 home runs with 45 RBIS and an OPS of .753 (fifth-best on the Blue Jays).

With a WAR of 1.3, a wOBA of .329, and a wRC+ of 109, it's the production the Blue Jays desperately needed after a slow start to the season. Despite going through waves of hot streaks at the plate, when you compare Okamoto to the two players that would've taken his spot in the lineup, it's very much welcomed.

Judging by a post seen on Reddit, when you look at the 2026 stats for Bichette, Tucker, and Okamoto, and you're deciding who you want at the plate for power, you're probably picking Okamoto.

Bo Bichette

Is Bo the one that got away? It's a thought that has surfaced only this month, where he's found his stride in Queens. In June, Bichette has slashed .338/.346/.554 with an OPS of .900, along with three home runs and 14 RBIs. It's exactly what the Mets had hoped to see when they signed him to a three-year, $126-million contract.

But as Bo slowly begins to increase his production, it's still a steep hill to climb to really win over Mets fans by the end of the year. With a WAR of -0.3 (at the time of this writing), Bichette has only eight home runs and 42 RBIs. On top of that, a wOBA of .290 and a wRC+ of 85 show there's still more value in Okamoto.

Yes, Bichette has the upper hand in batting average, getting more contact than Okamoto. But with the Blue Jays' third baseman outperforming in power and run production, it's currently a good thing Toronto left Bichette behind. After all, the last thing you want is a player before the mid-way point to say he's considering opting out of his three-year deal at the end of the season.

Kyle Tucker

It's hard to believe there was a period when Blue Jays fans were ready to riot after missing out on Tucker. Seeing Tucker become a supervillain after joining the Dodgers for a ridiculous $60-million AAV over four years felt like the ultimate slap in the face to not only the Blue Jays but the rest of MLB. As it turns out, it became the biggest relief for Toronto.

For $60 million, Tucker has put up some of the worst numbers you'll ever see for somebody who signed a lucrative contract like that. His power at the plate has gone silent, only knocking six home runs with a slugging percentage of .374 and an OPS of .705. Tucker's value is also in the gutter with a fWAR of 0.6. There really is no excuse for somebody who was a star in Houston and Chicago.

His poor at-bat in the bottom of the ninth Saturday, June 20th, against the Orioles may have been the tipping point for Dodgers fans, as they booed Tucker for swinging at three pitches way out of the strike zone. Is it the pressure of playing in Hollywood? Is it the pressure from being in a Dodgers uniform that hopes to threepeat this October in the World Series?

The Dodgers are hoping to find the answer to any and all of those questions, while the Blue Jays are hoping that Okamoto's impressive production can propel the rest of the team to find another gear as well.

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