MLB lifer's simple Kazuma Okamoto review should soothe major Blue Jays unknown

The Toronto Blue Jays’ biggest offensive splash of the offseason came from overseas. After failing to land a star from the Pacific Rim the last couple of winters, the Blue Jays got their guy when they acquired Yomiuri Giants slugger Kazuma Okamoto.

While most industry experts assume he’ll be able to carry over his impressive skills at the plate, the one knock was on his defense. But as Spring Training gets underway and Okamoto starts to get into game shape, the first impressions are positive that those defensive worries won’t linger into the coming season.

MLB lifer's simple Kazuma Okamoto review should soothe major Blue Jays unknown

Hall of Fame writer Jason Stark took in some of the sights and sounds at Blue Jays spring camp in Dunedin and got a good first look at one of the newest members of Toronto's club. His tweet was simple and should calm the nerves of Blue Jays fans who weren’t so sure about Okamoto being given the every day job at third base. Stark's tweet said, “First impressions: soft hands.”

If Okamoto gets the nod of approval from a baseball lifer like Stark, he’s obviously doing something right. In Japan, Okamoto played a combination of first, third and a little bit in the outfield. And in just a few sessions at the hot corner, it looks as if Okamoto is acclimating better than a former Blue Jay who had to change positions to find somewhere to play in 2026.

Bo Bichette, who was Toronto's main shortstop from 2019 through 2025 is playing his first year in New York after signing a massive deal with the Mets this past offseason. There have been many videos circulating online about Bo having a difficult time fielding ground balls at third in Mets camp. There's also been an absurd comparison between Bo's move and Alex Rodriguez's move to third when A-Rod joined the Yankees in the 2000's. As if there wasn't enough pressure on Bo already due to his $126 million salary, being compared to A-Rod should just about do it.

But back to Okamoto, there was already going to be pressure on him, perhaps unfairly, to try and replace the offense lost with Bo's departure. Bichette put up a 3.5 bWAR season with a .311/.357/.484 slash line with an .840 OPS and 18 home runs. He also finished third in the league in overall hits with 181 - despite missing the last three weeks of the season.

By comparison, Okamoto last year hit .322/.411/.581 with a .992 OPS and 23 home runs with only 36 strikeouts and 34 walks in 77 games played as he missed some time due to an injury. That production will fit just fine in a Blue Jays lineup that is losing Bichette. Meantime, the Blue Jays have some depth built into the third base position.

Addison Barger and Ernie Clement split duties at the hot corner for a large chunck of the 2025 season and that should take some pressure off of Okamoto. Sure, he'll want to be in the lineup every day and want to take command of that position - but the Blue Jays have some fluidity to their roster that could allow for some late inning defensive replacements if necessary.