Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto shares thoughts on slow start to season, adjusting to MLB lifestyle
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
In a recent interview, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto opened up about his transition from NPB to MLB and the adjustments he’s working through early in his first season.
Everything still feels new for Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto .
Each ballpark presents a different batter’s eye and unfamiliar infield conditions.
Opposing teams roll out pitchers he’s never seen before, and every road trip introduces him to a city he hasn’t yet experienced.
What isn’t new, however, is working through a slump at the plate.
The 29-year-old spoke candidly about his slow start with MLB.com's Keegan Matheson ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Brewers.
“To be honest, I want to, obviously, hit more,” Okamoto said through team interpreter Yusuke Oshima. “But over the long course of the season, I know there are going to be ups and downs. That’s no different from when I was playing in Japan. I think it’s just a little lull right now. Hopefully I get it going soon.”
From the outset, it always seemed likely that Okamoto’s first MLB season would come with an adjustment period — flashes of potential early on, followed by a stronger, more consistent stretch later in the year.
That path still appears to be within reach, especially if he continues to learn from these early challenges.
One of the biggest adjustments has been the quality and characteristics of MLB pitching.
Okamoto noted that the average fastball velocity is roughly four miles per hour higher than what he faced in Japan, with pitches also featuring more movement.
Even so, a few weeks into his MLB tenure, he’s beginning to recognize patterns in how pitchers are trying to attack him.
According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, Okamoto was able to laugh at times when reflecting on his first 16 games, despite the underwhelming results.
Still, both he and the organization expect improvement.
“I just have to make adjustments,” Okamoto said.
Defensively, Okamoto is working hard at positioning and infield communication at third base
Defensively, the transition has also presented challenges. Early metrics have graded him as well below average at third base, but Okamoto and the coaching staff have been putting in extra work before games to improve his performance at the position.
“Yes, I’m definitely getting used to it,” Okamoto said. “It’s definitely different than playing in all the time like overseas. It is much easier to play deeper at third base.”
Part of that adjustment includes positioning and communication, not just with the game itself, but with teammates who speak different first languages.
Shortstop Andrés Giménez told Bannon, that the process of building that chemistry has been an enjoyable one, even as they continue to work through the details.
“We’re working on it. We’re working on it,” Giménez said. “We’re trying to find the right communication.”
In time, the unfamiliar will become routine. The road trips will blur together, the ballparks will feel more familiar, and the league will no longer be a mystery.
That’s when the full version of Okamoto is likely to emerge. For now, it’s a process unfolding one day at a time.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease sets another franchise record in bizarre loss to Brewers
Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease sets another franchise record in bizarre loss to Brewers
| POLL | ||
6 HOURS AGO|16 ANSWERS Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto shares thoughts on slow start to season, adjusting to MLB lifestyle Do you think Kazuma Okamoto will be able to make the adjustment to MLB and grade out like he and the Toronto Blue Jays expect? | ||