The World Baseball Network winner of the International Player of the Week is Yomiuri Giants first baseman Kazuma Okamoto of the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Okamoto, 28, hit his 20th home run of the season against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the Tokoyo Dome on August 21 and now has hit 20 home runs in seven straight NPB seasons.
The three-run home run against Hiroshima Toyo Carp reliever Taylor Hearn also came in a huge moment, giving the Yomiuri Giants a 4-1 lead in the eighth.
The right-handed Okamoto has been one of the best players in the NPB during his 10-year career. He debuted in 2015 and has played his entire NPB career with the Yomiuri Giants.
He is a six-time NPB All-Star and has made it the last four seasons. He won two Mitsui Golden Glove Awards. Last season, he led the Central League with 41 home runs and is second this season. He also led the Central League in home runs in 2020 and 2021, with 31 and 39 home runs, respectively. His 97 RBI in 2020 and 113 RBI in 2021 topped all players in the Central League.
This season, he has 63 RBI and a slash line of .259/.345/.466 in 406 at-bats. His career numbers are 255 home runs, 801 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and an OPS of .845 in 4,615 at-bats.
Okamoto played for Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and helped them win the Gold medal 3-2 against Team USA at loanDepot Park in Miami. Okamoto’s solo home run against Team USA reliever Kyle Freeland ended up being the difference in the game, and he went 2-for-4. He had two home runs and seven RBI, with a .333 batting average and an OPS of 1.278 in the WBC.
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WBN NPB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/japan/
Photo Credit: Kazuma Okamoto #25 of Team Japan hits a home run in the fourth inning during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship game. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
