[Full Text Published] Giants Push Through No. 1 Draft Pick… Concerns Over “Reiwa’s Monster” Shoki Oda (Yokohama High) “Challenging MLB”

I want to get used to my new surroundings as soon as possible.

Shoki Oda (18) of Yokohama High School—known as the “Reiwa Monster”—announced at a press conference on October 15 that he would skip the Japanese draft to pursue a career in Major League Baseball or attend a U.S. university.

“There may be more benefits to going through the NPB, but my desire to play in the world’s best league and to become the world’s best player—which is my ultimate goal—was the biggest factor driving me forward.”

There has never been a single case of a high school pitcher—one who is virtually guaranteed to be in high demand in the draft—crossing the ocean to pursue his career. An 18-year-old Japanese player is about to blaze a trail where none has gone before.

“The reason I’m going at this time is, after all, the ‘language barrier’—which is the biggest challenge. I thought that by being exposed to real-world English while I’m young, I’ll be able to communicate effectively with my team once I reach the majors.”

He appears to view getting accustomed to English and a different culture early on as the first step toward success in the majors.

Additionally, Jacob Miziołowski (24), the ace right-hander for the Brewers who defeated the Dodgers in this year’s National League Championship Series, was selected in the second round of the draft while still in college. After gaining experience through several years in the minors, he became one of the major leagues’ top power pitchers.

Perhaps it is precisely because a roadmap like his is an option that Oda left the door open to attending college. However, signing a minor league contract with a Major League team is likely his primary path.

In contrast to Shohei Ohtani (32), who had once decided to pursue a career in the majors while at Hanamaki Higashi High School, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters persuaded him to change his mind by arguing that growing and establishing himself domestically before heading overseas would lead to a longer career at the top level. Will Oda, who is aiming for the dream stage of the majors without going through the NPB, be able to succeed in the United States?

Keiichi Yabu, a former ace for the Hanshin Tigers who also played for the Athletics and other teams, gives him his full endorsement:

“The ‘supple, fluid coordination without excessive force’ and ‘high command (the ability to throw precisely where intended)’ he already possesses at the age of 18 will serve as the strongest foundation for weathering the rough waters of the U.S.Standing 186 cm tall, his talent for calmly throwing a 157 km/h pitch with excellent control—without exerting any unnecessary force—is something you rarely come across, even in the history of Japanese baseball.”

The mastermind behind the decision is…

The mechanics (pitching motion) he honed at the prestigious Yokohama High School, combined with the cleverness to build a game while observing batters—Mr. Yabu says these are also among Oda’s outstanding talents.

“He should be able to continue evolving without losing sight of his own pitching style. However, while his height is about average for the majors, his weight is in the low 80s (kg), so he’s still on the slender side. Since his physique hasn’t fully developed muscle mass relative to his bone structure, he needs to build a major league-caliber body capable of withstanding pitching every four days, long-distance travel, and hard, sloped mounds.”

He’ll have to start his journey in the rookie league and work his way up through Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.

“The ideal scenario would be for him to progress steadily without injury and make his Major League debut four years from now, when he turns 22,” said Mr. Yabu.

It is widely acknowledged among scouts in both Japan and the U.S. that the person behind Oda’s decision this time is an executive at a major advertising agency who also supported current Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (24).

The approach—building a support system starting in high school, partnering with a major U.S. agency, and drawing up a blueprint with the next 10 years in mind—is the same as it was with Sasaki. However, even he spent five years biding his time with the Chiba Lotte Marines before crossing the ocean at age 23.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (46), a senior alumnus of Yokohama High School, was rigorously drilled on his lower body by head coach Seiichiro Ogura (82) during his high school days, and his skills in pickoff moves and handling bunts were also honed.“To produce pitchers who won’t embarrass us no matter where they play.” That was Yokohama High School’s philosophy. That is precisely why Matsuzaka was able to excel from his very first year as a pro. NPB scouts are voicing concerns about Oda at this point.

“The current assessment is that his skills outside of pitching fall far short of those of (fellow alumni) Matsuzaka and Hideaki Wakui (40). It may take some time for him to build a solid foundation as a pitcher after turning pro.”

Additionally, a Japanese scout in Major League Baseball compares him to a senior at the Dodgers—the team he is rumored to be joining—as follows:

“Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki of the Dodgers were already throwing pitches in the 160 km/h range during high school. Ohtani had a slider, and Sasaki had a forkball—both were their go-to pitches.It’s true that Pitcher Oda recorded a speed of 156 km/h—the fastest ever at Koshien—and possesses a forkball in the 140 km/h range, but when compared to the high school performances of the senior players who might become his teammates after he moves to the U.S., one cannot deny that his performance leaves a bit to be desired.”

Is Oda’s decision to head straight to the U.S. from Yokohama High School to take on the MLB challenge really the “right move”? We won’t know the answer for a few years.

From the November 6, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*