Kazuma Okamoto is hitting .237 with a .314 on-base percentage while slugging .462 with 21 home runs through 90 games this season. The 30-year-old third baseman, nicknamed "Big Oak," signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays this past January after 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, where he hit 248 home runs and was a six-time NPB All-Star.
The Blue Jays, at 44-49 and 11 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, have leaned on Okamoto's power all season, and the club made its case for a little more national attention Friday.
Under MLB's announcement that Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber had joined the Home Run Derby field in Philadelphia, the Blue Jays replied with a nudge of their own.
There is still one more spot available for the derby that is slated to begin on Monday, July 13. If Okamoto were to join the field, he would compete alongside the likes of Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Ben Rice, Junior Caminero, Jac Caglianone, Wilson Contreras and Jordan Walker.
Okamoto enters the weekend riding a hot stretch, having hit the first Blue Jays grand slam by a rookie since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did so in 2019 during Wednesday’s win over the San Francisco Giants.
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Toronto opens a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday, the final series before the All-Star break. Okamoto has made his case for joining the derby, as he's shown strength at the plate, and with MLB still needing to fill a final spot, he would be more than worthy of the addition.
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