Giants Draft No. 1 Pick Shoki Oda: Is an MLB Move the Right Choice?

An uncharted path

On October 15, Yokohama High School’s Shoki Oda (18), known as the “Monster of the Reiwa Era,” announced at a press conference that he intends either to pursue a career in Major League Baseball or attend a university in the United States.

“Going through NPB might offer more advantages, but what pushed me most was my desire to play in the world’s best league and become the world’s best player, which is my ultimate goal.”

There has never been a case of a high school pitcher regarded as the best in his generation going overseas. At just 18, Oda is trying to blaze a trail into uncharted territory.

“The reason I want to go at this point is that the biggest challenge is the language barrier. By being exposed to real, everyday English from a young age, I believe I’ll be able to communicate effectively with my teammates when I make it to the major leagues.”

He appears to believe that becoming accustomed to English and a different culture early on is the first step toward succeeding in MLB.

Jacob Misiorowski (24), the Brewers’ ace right-hander, offers another possible path. The Brewers defeated the Dodgers in this year’s National League Championship Series. Misiorowski was selected in the second round of the draft while still in college, spent several years gaining experience in the minor leagues, and went on to become one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in MLB.

Perhaps because a roadmap like his is also an option, Oda has left the door open to attending university. Even so, signing a minor league contract with an MLB team is likely to be the most realistic route.

When Shohei Ohtani (32) decided to pursue MLB while attending Hanamaki Higashi High School, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters persuaded him to reconsider, arguing that developing in Japan and building a track record before going overseas would help him remain at the top for many years. Can Oda, who is pursuing his dream of playing in MLB without going through NPB, succeed in the United States? Keiichi Yabu, a former Hanshin Tigers ace who also played for teams including the Athletics, gives him his strong endorsement.

“At just 18, he already possesses two of the strongest foundations for overcoming the challenges of American baseball: smooth, effortless coordination in his pitching motion, and excellent command, meaning the ability to place the ball precisely where he intends. At 186 cm tall, he can calmly throw at 157 km/h with remarkable control and without putting unnecessary force into his delivery. A talent like that is rarely seen in the history of Japanese baseball.”

Yabu also points to the pitching mechanics Oda developed at prestigious Yokohama High School and his intelligence in reading opposing batters and managing a game as further strengths.

“He should be able to keep improving without losing sight of his own pitching style. However, while his height is around average for MLB, he weighs only a little over 80 kg, so he still has a slender build. His body has yet to develop enough muscle for his frame. He will need to build a physique suited to MLB, one that can withstand pitching every four days, long-distance travel, and hard, sloped pitching mounds.”

He will have to begin his journey in the Rookie leagues and work his way up through Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.

“Ideally, he would advance steadily without injuries and make his MLB debut in four years, when he turns 22.” (Yabu)

Among scouts in both Japan and the United States, there is a shared understanding that the person behind Oda’s decision is an executive at a major advertising agency who also helped support current Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (24). The approach is much the same as in Sasaki’s case: establish a support system while the player is still in high school, partner with a major American sports agency, and develop a blueprint looking ten years ahead. However, Sasaki himself spent five years biding his time with the Chiba Lotte Marines before moving to the United States at 23.

At the October 22 draft, Oda was selected first overall by the Yomiuri Giants. Will he follow the same path as Sasaki, or will he remain firm in his decision to head to the United States?

The October 23 issue of “FRIDAY,” dated November 6, and its paid edition, “FRIDAY GOLD,” provide a detailed look at the latest assessments of Oda by scouts in Japan and the United States.

For the full story and more photos, click here↓

From the November 6, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”