Kazuma Okamoto has been solid for the Jays in the first month and change, and he's shown the ability to make adjustments.
The Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday by a score of 4-3, the latest disappointment in an early season full of them.
Battling a multitude of injuries, the Blue Jays are just 16-18 and in third place in the American League East. Armed with World Series aspirations, they've underachieved, though the injuries are the major storyline for the group so far.
But one thing that is not disappointing for the Jays so far? The play of offseason acquisition Kazuma Okamoto, who homered again in the loss, giving him nine for the campaign.
The slugger, who had six different 20-plus homer seasons in Japan, was signed to a four-year deal worth $60 million this offseason. He's played mostly every day at third base, and though he's hitting .236 with a .319 on-base percentage, he's starting to show some real adjustments to major league pitching.
He has three homers in his last three games, four home runs in his last seven games and seven over his last 15. He's got a .387 on-base percentage in that time
With Addison Barger, Anthony Santander and Alejandro Kirk all hurt, the Blue Jays will continue to need Okamoto to perform moving forward. Barger is working back and homered in a Single-A rehab game on Sunday, but Santander could be out for the season.
Also in Blue Jays news
--They promoted top prospect Arjun Nimmala from High-A Vancouver to Double-A New Hampshire on Sunday. A first-round pick in 2023, Nimmala is still just 20 years old. The shortstop already had 13 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs in the Northwest League. He's hitting .241 with a .362 on-base percentage. He also has four home runs.
Nimmala is ranked as the No. 67 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline and pairs with JoJo Parker (No. 39) to make an up an exciting young nucleus for the Blue Jays farm system. Parker is playing at Single-A Dunedin after being a first-round pick in 2025.
--Jose Berrios made another rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Buffalo, struggling through 3.2 innings. He gave up seven earned runs and three home runs, while also walking four. He struck out just one and worked at 92.1 mph with his sinker.
It's unclear where he'll make his next start. And if he does come back to the big leagues, it's unclear what the corresponding move will be. Eric Lauer being sent to the bullpen feels most likely, but a decision with Patrick Corbin also looms.
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