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New Blue Jay Okamoto says daughter's logo choice helped seal the deal
Summary
Kazuma Okamoto said he showed MLB team logos to his daughter and her preference for the Toronto Blue Jays logo influenced his decision, and he signed a four-year deal with the Blue Jays.
Content
Kazuma Okamoto was introduced on Tuesday as the newest member of Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays. He said he put the logos of all 30 MLB teams in front of his daughter and asked which one she liked. Her choice — the Blue Jays' stylized blue jay head with a red maple leaf — stayed with him during his decision. Okamoto signed a four-year contract with Toronto after 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.
Key facts:
- Okamoto said his daughter picked the Blue Jays' logo when shown all 30 major-league team designs.
- He signed a four-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Okamoto spent 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants and led Nippon Professional Baseball in home runs three times.
- He was limited to 69 games last year due to an elbow injury suffered in a collision while playing first base.
- Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins called the signing "another significant step" and said the club "definitely got better today."
Summary:
Okamoto's arrival adds a power hitter to a Blue Jays roster that lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the decisive seventh game of last year's World Series. The team framed his signing as a meaningful addition. Undetermined at this time.
