DUNEDIN, Florida, Feb 24 (Kyodo/APP): New Toronto Blue Jays slugger Kazuma Okamoto, who is set to join Japan’s national team at the upcoming World Baseball Classic, blasted his first home run for his team in a Major League Baseball spring training game on Monday.
In a game against the New York Mets in Dunedin, Florida, Okamoto, who signed with the Blue Jays earlier this year, lifted it high over the wall in center field in the second inning.
Batting sixth as the third baseman, Okamoto went 1-for-2 with two RBIs in the Blue Jays’ 4-3 defeat.
“I was able to swing the bat well,” Okamoto said. “I just want to keep it up and produce good results every day.”
Another WBC-bound Japanese player, Chicago White Sox left-handed hitter Munetaka Murakami, who also moved from Nippon Professional Baseball this season, started as designated hitter, batting third, and doubled in the eighth inning to finish 2-for-4.
“My timing is coming back,” Murakami said after an exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Both Okamoto and Murakami are expected to represent Japan at the tournament beginning early March, with the national team, known as Samurai Japan, set to defend its title.