Okamoto spoke with Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet, acknowledging he hasn’t met his own standards but insisting this rough stretch is a temporary lull. “To be honest, I want to hit more. But over a long course of the season, I know there’s going to be ups and downs,” he said. “That’s no different from when I was playing in Japan, too. So, I think it’s just a little lull right now. And, hopefully, I can get it going soon.”
The Blue Jays find themselves tied with the Boston Red Sox for last place in the crowded American League East, and underperformance across the roster has amplified the pressure on Okamoto to turn things around. His early-season struggles have been a contributing factor as Toronto attempts to recapture the form that carried it within one out of the World Series last year.
Positionally, Okamoto has appeared in 17 games—15 at third base, two at first, and one as a designated hitter. At third, he has not yet established himself as an MLB-caliber option, with several rough moments in the field. He has shown more comfort at first base, though that role is currently blocked by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
With George Springer slated to DH when healthy, Okamoto has filled in at DH to keep his defensive workload light. Springer’s injury status and the possibility that Okamoto could slide into DH more regularly in the future—potentially taking Springer’s spot if the veteran players depart after this season—adds another layer to his long-term outlook. For now, Okamoto intends to keep working and prove why he was one of the premier free-agent targets from Japan this past offseason.
