Rangers breakout the big guns, could achieve impossible dream with Japanese phenom

Will the Texas Rangers sign young Japanese star right-hander Shoki Oda? Probably not. With top contenders such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and others interested in the 18-year-old, it's doubtful the Rangers will be his top choice. Most would likely bet that the Dodgers have the best shot at signing Oda, as they have three star Japanese natives: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki.

However, a recent report from Beisbol FR's Francys Romero suggests that the Rangers could actually convince Oda to sign with the club. Per Romero, the Rangers met with Oda and left a great impression on the young phenom. Among those in attendance at the meeting were director of international scouting Jonny Clum, assistant general manager Josh Boyd, and Rangers Korean prospect Seong-Jun Kim.

Could the Rangers actually sign young Japanese phenom Shoki Oda?

Another hurdle for the Rangers signing Oda is that Texas is in the Central Time Zone. A major reason Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels when he came to the United States was that he wanted to play for a West Coast team, since the time zone there is closer to Japanese time.

Let's hope that's not a major factor in Oda's decision process. If the Rangers impressed Oda enough, he could become the Rangers' next Japanese phenom after Yu Darvish.

Since Oda is forgoing playing in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he is subject to MLB's international amateur signing rules and bonus pool limitations. That means Oda can receive a lucrative signing bonus, but he will be under a standard rookie contract once he reaches the big leagues. For reference, Sasaki is currently making less than $1 million per year because he signed with the Dodgers as an amateur international free agent. He received a $6.5 million bonus from the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million contract with Los Angeles out of Japan because he played in the NPB long enough not to be considered an amateur international free agent.

Oda will be eligible to sign on Jan. 15, 2027. However, the expected lockout in early December could push that date back, meaning Oda would have to wait until a new CBA is agreed upon before signing.

Oda is six feet, one inch tall. He has a five-pitch mix that consists of a high-90s fastball, slider, cutter, splitter, curveball, and changeup.

The report suggests that the typical geographic concerns, combined with the presence of existing Japanese players, may not matter as much for Oda as they do for others. The 18-year-old is putting the future of his career in the hands of whatever club he signs with. If the Rangers impressed him, it's because they made the case that the organization has everything he needs in order to thrive.

The inclusion of Kim in the contingency could also be seen as intriguing. While Kim hails from Korea, he can speak directly to Texas's ability to develop young talent, as well as help top Asian talents assimilate into life in the United States. Not every team in the league has an ace in the hole like that.

Ultimately, Oda has other meetings and is thought to be talking to a dozen or so teams overall. There is also no guarantee that he decides to go the IFA route, as playing NCAA baseball or returning to Japan to play for the Yomiuri Giants, who selected him in the recent NPB draft despite Oda's stated desires to come stateside.

Still, the Rangers' chances of landing the young phenom have only increased since the meeting, and that's a great sign. We can all dream of a brighter future with Oda joining 2026 first-round pick Gio Rojas leading the starting rotation for years to come. One step at a time, though.

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