Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto will be posted for MLB teams to sign this offseason, he and his Yomiuri Giants announced Wednesday. The 29-year-old corner infielder has hit 248 home runs across 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League with a career .277/.361/.521 slash line.

Okamoto gained international recognition at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he helped Japan capture its third tournament championship. He hit a crucial insurance home run in the final against Team USA, a 407-foot solo shot off Kyle Freeland that proved decisive in Japan's 3-2 victory. Okamoto finished the tournament with a 1.278 OPS, ranking third on the team behind Shohei Ohtani.

The right-handed batter hit at least 30 home runs each season from 2018 to 2023, including a career-high 39 in 2021. Injury limited him to 69 games in 2024, where he batted .327 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs. He posted equal totals of walks and strikeouts (33) across 293 plate appearances.

Drafted in the first round by the Giants in 2014, Okamoto debuted the following year but didn't establish himself until 2018. He has primarily played third base throughout his career but logged most of his innings at first base in 2024.

Teams pursuing a third baseman may consider Okamoto alongside free agents Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suárez. All 30 MLB teams will have 45 days to negotiate after Okamoto is officially posted.

The signing team must pay the Yomiuri Giants a release fee based on contract value. Contracts worth $25 million or less require a 20 percent fee. Higher-value deals include tiered percentages up to contracts exceeding $50 million.

At least two other NPB players will be posted this year: first/third baseman Munetaka Murakami, who hit 56 home runs in 2022, and right-handed starter Kona Takahashi, who posted a 3.04 ERA in 148 innings this season.