Latest Phillies rumor suggests they need to go all out for Japanese superstar prospect

Shoki Oda is 6-foot-1 and touches 98 mph on his fastball. A graduate of Japan’s Yokohama High School, he has forgone his Nippon Professional Baseball draft commitments after being selected by the Yomiuri Giants and intends to test the waters in American baseball instead.

According to a report by Yakyu Cosmopolitan, the Philadelphia Phillies are one of three teams to meet with the top Japanese prospect this week, along with the Texas Rangers and New York Mets.

Last summer, Oda competed in the Koshien Tournament, Japan's largest youth sporting competition (think March Madness but for high school baseball). He was one of the competition's standout pitchers, leading his school to the semi-finals.

Oda followed up his Koshien showing with another standout performance at the U-18 Baseball World Cup qualifiers, in which Japan finished runner-up. Using a six-pitch repertoire that includes a slider, curveball, splitter, changeup, and cutter, he struck out seven Chinese Taipei hitters, allowing one run in his lone appearance.

Since Oda is not enrolled in an American high school or college, he would be eligible to sign with MLB teams only as an international amateur free agent when the signing period begins on January 15.

Of course, the lockout could complicate the process, but unlike the Rule 5 draft, there would be no need to reschedule. The international amateur free agent signing period remains open for 11 months after it begins.

However, Oda is also considering attending an American university or community college. It would allow him to develop further before committing to a team and entering the MLB Draft.

The list of Japanese players who have attended American colleges has grown over the past decade, but remains slim: Rintaro Saski, Shotaro Morii, Genei Sato, and Kenny Ishikawa. A protracted lockout could force Oda to join an NCAA program, or, as Yu Darvish recommended, honor his NPB Draft commitment.

Staying in Japan would allow Oda to skip the American farm system entirely, a journey that can be culturally isolating for foreigners. Signing an NPB contract with a built-in posting clause would be a more financially sound decision for Oda.

Nevertheless, Oda has not responded to Darvish’s comment and remains committed to crossing the Pacific this offseason. He appeared on Japanese TV following the draft and said, "I am honored to have been selected, but my desire to challenge myself in America is not wavering at all." 

Phillies battling Yankees, Dodgers and others for star Japanese pitcher Shoki Oda 

Among the Mets and Rangers, the Phillies will face stiff competition from the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees to sign the phenom prospect.

The Dodgers are the only MLB team Oda follows on Instagram, though it’s not exactly surprising given the litany of Japanese talent on their roster.

So far, 12 MLB teams have plans to meet, or have met, with Oda. Kodai Senga arrived with the Mets’ delegation, and Korean international signee Seong-Jun Kim joined the Rangers’ party. The Phillies, without a highly touted recent international signee or Japanese Major Leaguer, were led by international scouts Toranosuke Otsuka, son of Akifumi Otsuka, who recorded 39 saves in his four-year Major League career.

The Oda sweepstakes will likely drag on for several months, considering the current state of the CBA. Nevertheless, the Phillies are in hot pursuit.

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