The Texas Rangers made their pitch to Japanese right-hander Shoki Oda, and they brought one of their own top prospects with them.
Francys Romero reported on X that the Rangers sent an eight-person delegation to meet with Oda. Right-hander Seong-Jun Kim, currently ranked as the Rangers' No. 8 prospect, was part of the group. Texas signed Kim as an international free agent on March 19, 2025.
The meeting reportedly left a great impression on Oda. Obviously that's good news for Texas, and bringing Kim was a smart move. He's a young international arm who chose the Rangers and is now one of the top prospects in their system.
Who Is Shoki Oda?
Oda is an 18-year-old Japanese prodigy who wants to go straight to MLB instead of starting his career in Japan. He throws 97 mph.
In high school, Oda struck out 395 batters in 303.2 innings with a 0.86 ERA. That résumé made him a first-round pick in the NPB Draft.
He broke out over the summer at the Summer Koshien tournament in Japan, where he struck out 12 over 8.2 innings.
Which MLB Teams Have Met With Shoki Oda?
Oda started meeting with MLB teams earlier this month. He and his camp met with the Phillies and Mets, and he was expected to meet with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Astros, Yankees and others.
According to a post on X from yakyucosmo, the Blue Jays met with Oda. Their staff included Gosuke Katoh, a former player who also spent time with the Nippon-Ham Fighters. The Cardinals also met with Oda and reportedly had a productive meeting.
A Yahoo report from Japan said Oda planned to meet with 12 MLB teams over a two-week span before deciding whether to come to the U.S.
When Can Shoki Oda Sign With an MLB Team?
The earliest date Oda can put pen to paper with an MLB club is Jan. 15, 2027. That depends on the international signing period going ahead as planned.
Are the Dodgers the Favorite to Sign Shoki Oda?
The Dodgers are involved, and they're considered the favorites to sign him. It has been reported that his favorite player is Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the only MLB team he follows on Instagram is the Dodgers.
Where Oda Would Fit in the Rangers' Pitching Pipeline
If the Rangers land Oda, he'd be one of the top arms in a farm system that already has Seong-Jun Kim, Caden Scarborough, AJ Russell and Jacob Johnson, plus newly drafted Gio Rojas and Brody Bumila, among others.
Adding Oda to that group would give the Rangers some very nice pitching depth.
