Details Of Dodgers’ Meeting With Shoki Oda

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added several high-profile Japanese players to their roster in recent years and could potentially be eyeing another one this offseason.

The Dodgers are believed to be among the teams that have met with 18-year-old pitcher Shoki Oda as he looks to begin his professional career in the United States. Following their sit-down with the Japanese phenom, L.A. could have the edge over other clubs in signing him.

According to Dylan Hernández of the California Post, the Dodgers had a lengthy meeting with Oda and his representatives that included vice president of player personnel Galen Carr.

The face-to-face meeting lasted more than three hours, according to Japanese news reports, which pointed out that Oda’s talks with representatives of other major-league organizations were in the one- to two-hour range.

Representing the Dodgers were vice president of player personnel Galen Carr, adviser Yogo Suzuki and scout Toru Sugiura. Oda was accompanied by his mother and Yokohama High baseball coach Hiroaki Murata.

The Dodgers were already widely the favorite to sign Oda as they are the only time he follows on Instagram. Additionally, he is represented by the same management company that helped Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki transition to Major League Baseball.

Oda would normally be eligible to sign with a team as soon as Jan. 15, 2027, when the next international signing period begins, but he won’t be able to finalize a deal until a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is in place.

Because he is entering MLB as an international free agent, Oda won’t be restricted to signing with a team before the current CBA expires on Dec. 1, such as players coming from Nippon Professional Baseball and the KBO League.

However, Oda can only sign a Minor League contract with a signing bonus that would subtract from a club’s international bonus pool — the same as when Sasaki signed with the Dodgers.

Why is Shoki Oda making move to MLB?

It is rare for a Japanese player to make the move to the United States without any professional experience. Because he hasn’t already played in an established league, Oda will have to work his way through the Minor League system before reaching the Majors.

Oda believes making the jump sooner rather than later is important because of the language barrier, which he anticipates being the “biggest hurdle.” His goal is to become the best pitcher in the world and he wants to get a head start on accomplishing that.

“By immersing myself in real-world English from a young age, I will be able to communicate effectively with my teammates and staff when I make it to the Major Leagues,” Oda recently said.