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The Toronto Blue Jays have another one of their own going to represent their country at the World Baseball Classic.
Team Japan announced Monday (January 26) that Kazuma Okamoto will suit up for them in the international tournament this March. This is Okamoto's second appearance for Japan after playing in 2023 and winning gold.
🇯🇵 Defending the WBC Crown 👑
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) January 26, 2026
岡本和真選手がWBC侍ジャパンに選出されました。おめでとう御座います！ pic.twitter.com/VrD4UrzACr
Kazuma Okamoto's going to his second World Baseball Classic
Okamoto was instrumental in Japan's 2023 WBC title win. In seven games, Okamoto slashed .333/.556/.722 with an OPS of 1.278. He knocked in seven RBIs and two homers, with one of those coming in the championship game against the United States.
After being selected for Japan, Okamoto is one of several Blue Jays' confirmed player suiting up for the WBC, following Ernie Clement for Team USA, Alejandro Kirk for Team Mexico and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for Team Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, José Berríos (Puerto Rico), Cody Ponce (Mexico), Adam Macko (Canada), Leo Jimenez (Panama), and Yariel Rodriguez (Cuba) will also participate.
Okamoto joins a stacked Team Japan in the hopes of once again becoming back-to-back WBC champions after pulling off the feat in 2006 and 2009. Japan has also included Shohei Ohtani, Yusei Kikuchi, Seiya Suzuki, and notable Blue Jay World Series dream crusher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Team USA is currently the slight favorite to win it all in 2026. However, with Team Japan not far behind in the odds, it's safe never to count them out.
This tournament will give Blue Jays fans a sneak peek of their newest infielder for the 2026 season. Signing a four-year, $60 million deal in early January, Okamoto was a force to be reckoned with in Japan and hopes it'll carry over in MLB. In the Nippon Professional Baseball league, Okamoto posted a career .882 OPS, with 248 home runs and 717 RBIs.
Team Japan has been drawn into Pool C, which will be played in Tokyo for the 2026 WBC. There, Japan will enter round-robin action against Australia, Czechia, Chinese Taipei, and Korea. The World Baseball Classic opens on March 5.