Tokyo International News Agency

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto etched his name in Major League Baseball history on July 25 (Japan time) by hitting a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The blast was his 23rd of the season, breaking the record for the most home runs by a Japanese-born rookie, previously held by Shohei Ohtani with 22. Okamoto had been struggling through a mid-season slump, going 0-for-24 since the All-Star break. However, he snapped the skid earlier in the game with a double off Fenway's famous Green Monster. Riding that momentum into his next at-bat, he crushed a towering three-run shot to center field to spark a Toronto rally. Celebrating the milestone, the Blue Jays' official social media accounts posted, "OKAMOTO SAN! NUMBER 23 - THE MOST BY A JAPANESE-BORN ROOKIE!" Despite the historic achievement, Okamoto remained composed, remarking after the game, "I felt relieved to get a hit. My top priority is staying healthy and playing every day....

On July 7, 2026, Toronto Blue Jays star Kazuma Okamoto launched his 20th home run of the season in an away game, breaking an eight-game homerless streak. This milestone shot, his first since turning 30, marks a significant achievement as he reaches the 20-home run plateau in his debut Major League season. On this day, Okamoto perfectly scooped an inside low sinker, sending it into the stands with his signature high-arcing trajectory. The powerful display stunned the opposing home crowd, drawing a roar of applause. On social media, fans were quick to praise his exceptional technique, with comments such as, "The way he tucks his elbows is masterful" and "It's amazing how much distance he gets with such a smooth swing." The context Kazuma Okamoto is a Japanese professional baseball player who joined the Toronto Blue Jays after a long and illustrious career with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His transition to MLB has been highly anticipat...

On May 30 (May 31 Japan time), Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto started as the cleanup hitter in an away game against the Baltimore Orioles. In the seventh inning, Okamoto blasted his 12th home run of the season—a two-run shot—igniting a dramatic comeback victory for his team. The Blue Jays had been struggling, trailing by five runs early in the game. However, in the seventh, Okamoto stepped up to the plate and crushed a first-pitch fastball deep into the left-field stands. It was a majestic, "no-doubt" home run that everyone knew was gone the moment it left the bat. This two-run blast acted as a catalyst, sparking a massive rally by the Blue Jays' offense. They completely erased the five-run deficit in a furious comeback, ultimately securing a 6-5 victory and extending their winning streak to four games. On social media, fans showered him with praise, with comments like, "That's exactly what a cleanup hitter is supposed to do," "That line...

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto put on a power-hitting clinic on May 2 (May 3 JST), recording his first multi-home run game since joining the Major Leagues. Starting as the cleanup hitter and third baseman against the Minnesota Twins, Okamoto blasted his 6th and 7th home runs of the season in consecutive at-bats, driving the Blue Jays to a 6-2 victory. The game broke open in the fourth inning with the score tied at 2-2. Leading off the inning, Okamoto sent a solo shot into the left-center stands to give Toronto the lead. He wasn't done yet. In his next trip to the plate in the fifth inning, with a runner on first and no outs, he crushed the first pitch he saw. The ball screamed into the left-field seats as a line-drive two-run homer, extending the lead. The explosive performance momentarily stunned the home crowd and sparked a social media frenzy, with "MLB First" trending as fans celebrated his milestone. Okamoto remained a threat throughout the night, nearly ...

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto achieved his 250th career home run across Japan and MLB in dramatic fashion, showcasing remarkable performance since the season's start. On this day, he hit a home run for the second consecutive game, bringing significant momentum to the team. The noteworthy home run came when Okamoto perfectly connected with the opposing pitcher's 159 km/h (approximately 98.8 mph) four-seam fastball, sending it majestically into the left-center field stands. As attention focused on the trajectory of the ball, a video review ultimately confirmed it as a home run. Fans in the stadium watched the call with bated breath, and the moment the umpire signaled a home run, the excitement reached a fever pitch. Comments like "He's got that 'it' factor for a video review to turn into a home run" and "It was nerve-wracking, but glad it was safely called a home run" flooded social media, with fans unable to hide their excitement over the ...