Shoki Oda, an 18-year-old high school pitching standout from Yokohama capable of throwing 157 km/h, is widely expected to sign directly with the Los Angeles Dodgers rather than enter Nippon Professional Baseball, according to a report published by the California Post.
The California Post Report on Shoki Oda
Dylan Hernandez of the California Post reported that the Dodgers have emerged as the frontrunner to land the teenage right-hander, noting that the move highlights growing anxiety within Japanese baseball. According to the report, Oda’s admired pitcher is Yoshinobu Yamamoto and he follows only the Dodgers among Major League Baseball teams on Instagram. Sources cited by the publication indicate that industry expectations point strongly toward Oda joining the Los Angeles franchise.
Comparison with Past Japanese Stars and Ohtani’s Path
If Oda completes a move to North America without appearing in NPB, he would follow a path distinct from legendary Japanese stars such as Daisuke Matsuzaka, Yu Darvish, and Shohei Ohtani, all of whom established themselves domestically before moving to the majors. The report noted that Ohtani nearly signed with the Dodgers out of high school as a pitcher before the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters drafted him and convinced him to sign by offering a two-way role as both a pitcher and hitter.
Giants Select Oda in First Round of NPB Draft
The Giants selected Oda in the first round of the NPB draft on October 22. Speaking after the draft selection, Oda acknowledged the honor while reaffirming his stance, stating: 非常に光栄な指名をいただきましたが、昨日、会見させていただきました通り、アメリカに挑戦する気持ちはまったくブレません
(I am very honored to be selected, but as I stated in my press conference yesterday, my desire to challenge myself in America has not wavered at all).
While the Giants plan to use their first-round status to try to persuade him to stay in Japan, the California Post described those efforts as a symbolic final resistance. The report also noted that while NPB teams face a 100 million yen cap on draft contract bonuses, industry scouts estimate that an MLB deal for Oda could command between 3 million dollars (approximately 470 million yen) and 5 million dollars (approximately 780 million yen).
Other Recent Direct-to-MLB Pathways
However, scouts cited in the coverage emphasize that Oda’s status as a top-tier high school talent sets his potential departure apart from those precedents.
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