In a significant move, 18-year-old Shotaro Morii has opted to forgo Japanese professional baseball and has signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics, which includes a signing bonus of $1,510,500. This decision is highly unusual, as most top Japanese talents typically sign with Nippon Professional Baseball teams before eventually making the leap to Major League Baseball.
Morii, capable of playing both shortstop and pitching, made the leap from high school straight into the Athletics’ system, marking the beginning of the 2025 signing period. During a virtual press conference, he expressed his commitment to his dreams, stating, “I didn’t want to regret about my decision when I think about my whole life and whole career.” He appeared in an A’s jersey over a dress shirt, showcasing his excitement for the opportunity.
Another young talent, Rintaro Sasaki, who turned 19 in April, also chose to set aside NPB’s draft to pursue a college career at Stanford last year. Morii articulated a similar desire by saying, “I wanted to join the professional baseball environment as soon as I can.”
A left-handed hitter, Morii has demonstrated his dual abilities since the age of eight, racking up 45 home runs over three seasons at Tokyo’s TOHO Junior and Senior High School while also excelling as a pitcher. He is set to begin his journey at the lowest minor league tier in Mesa, Arizona, where he will play with the Arizona Complex League Athletics.
According to Dan Feinstein, the assistant general manager of the Athletics, “He’s a very talented baseball player with enough athleticism and mobility to play both shortstop and pitch.” Feinstein added that Morii’s passion for the sport and his determination to succeed truly stood out during the recruitment process.
Morii is currently in the United States but plans to return to Japan briefly before he officially joins the Athletics in March. He made it clear to the teams he communicated with that he was eager to be a two-way player. This signing is part of a broader transition for the Athletics, who are moving from Oakland to play three seasons in West Sacramento, California, before relocating to a prospective new stadium in Las Vegas.
Feinstein acknowledged the efforts of the organization’s scouting team, including director of international scouting Steve Sharpe, Pacific Rim coordinator Adam Hislop, and scout Toshiyuki Tomizuka, who helped pave the way for Morii’s signing. “Tommy, our scout in Japan, was able to watch a lot of their practices, his high school’s practices and games last year, and then build a relationship with Shotaro and his family once MLB allowed us to do so,” Feinstein mentioned. “We knew he had a strong desire to play in the States.”
Additionally, Morii has already started taking summer English classes. When asked if the achievements of players like Shohei Ohtani and others influenced his decision to come to MLB, Morii responded affirmatively in English, “Yes, of course.” Notably, Hideki Matsui, a three-time MVP of Japan’s Central League, once showcased his skills with the Oakland franchise in 2011.
Reflecting on his choice of team, Morii said, “This team has history,” indicating that the organization shared valuable insights regarding its operations with him. While he admires Ohtani, he does not see himself on the same level just yet. Morii concluded by expressing his aspiration, saying, “Shohei is really a baseball player far away from me right now,” and he aims “to get closer to him as soon as I can.”
