Photo via MLB.com

Top Japanese prospect Shoki Oda announces plans to forego NPB for future MLB career

Yokohama High School pitcher **Shoki Oda** has made a bold move toward an MLB future, announcing his decision to bypass the upcoming NPB Draft and pursue opportunities in the United States. The 18-year-old right-hander, standing at 6-foot-1, has already drawn significant attention for his elite fastball velocity, including a tournament-record 97.6 mph pitch thrown during Japan’s Summer Koshien high school tournament earlier this year.

His performance—8.2 strong innings, six hits allowed, and 12 strikeouts—helped lead Yokohama to the semifinals, while his secondary arsenal of sliders, curveballs, and changeups further solidified his prospect status. Oda’s decision follows a trend among top Japanese talents, with **Rintaro Sasaki** and **Shotaro Morii** recently opting for MLB paths instead of NPB commitments, while others like **Genei Sato** and **Kenny Ishikawa** have pursued collegiate routes to become draft-eligible in the U.S.

Up nextMLB· 1h ago

Who should Brewers want to face in the World Series?