Braves legend backs NPB's 6x All-Star as elite hitter after taking Trevor Bauer deep twice

Dena BayStars Pitcher Trevor Bauer & Yomiuri Giants Slugger Kazuma Okamoto

Trevor Bauer is spending another season in Japan with the NPB. He agreed to a deal with the DeNa BayStars back in January, making this his second stint with the club.

He has had great success in Japan, being selected for the NPB All-Star team back in 2023. Later that year, he was named the June MVP, and he was looking to bring back that dominance.

However, when the BayStars faced off against the Yomiuri Giants on Wednesday, Bauer struggled. He let up two monster home runs to Kazuma Okamoto, who Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones backs as a top 20 hitter.

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They were not small shots, either. The home runs were no-doubters that were sent deep, deep into the stands to help his club pull further away from the BayStars.

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For the BayStars, they struggled to get anything going on Wednesday, both offensively and defensively. They failed to score a run, getting shut out by a score of 5-0.

The win gives the Giants an 8-7 record, which is good for third place in the Central League. The loss dropped the BayStars to 5-7, putting them in last place in the Central League.

Fans could see Trevor Bauer and Kazuma Okamoto in the MLB soon

Los Angeles Dodgers - Trevor Bauer (Photo via IMAGN)

Trevor Bauer has been trying to sign with an MLB team for a few years now. However, since his legal problems, no team has come forward with a contract for the hard-throwing righty.

Many insiders believe the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher could work as an ace for many teams. Despite that, many front office members are nervous about the blowback they would receive by signing him.

As he continues to demonstrate what he can do on the mound and continues to keep bringing eyes to the sport, his chance could come. He believes he deserves another shot, and so do many others.

The story is a bit different with Kazuma Okamoto. He has been scouted by MLB teams since the 2023 season, and many like what they have seen, However, it will still be a few years until his NPB service threshold is surpassed.

The six-time NPB All-Star is currently on pace to be an international free agent after the 2026 season. Once time gets closer, fans will hear his name more and more. He is one of the most exciting sluggers in Japan and could have a tremendous future ahead of him.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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Edited by Jared "Bloomy" Bloom