8 Teams Linked To Japanese Pitching Phenom Shoki Oda

Just 18 years old, Japanese pitching phenom Shoki Oda is taking the very rare route to the major leagues, jumping straight to North America without first playing in the NPB in Japan. 

The teenage pitching sensation has been linked to at least eight teams in the majors.

Shoki Oda is expected to meet with several MLB clubs in the coming hours, including the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, among others. Oda would presumably be eligible to sign starting January 15, 2027, when the new international signing period begins, if it is not postponed.

— Francys Romero (@FrancysRomero) November 5, 2026

Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies are among the teams being linked to Oda, as well as the New York Mets, who have already met with him. He was expected to meet with the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros on Friday.

But one other club, according to Latin American baseball reporter Francys Romero, has also met with him and made a 'great impression' on the youngster. 

The Texas Rangers recently met with 18-year-old Japanese phenom Shoki Oda. According to sources, the Rangers had an eight-person team at the meeting, were extremely well-prepared, and left a great impression on Oda. Director of International Scouting Jonny Clum, Assistant GM Josh Boyd, and Rangers Korean prospect Seong-Jun Kim, who was signed by Clum, were among those in attendance.

— Francys Romero (@FrancysRomero) November 5, 2026

Romero reports that the Texas Rangers sent a huge eight-person contingent to their meeting with Oda and his camp. He says that the Rangers reps "were extremely well-prepared, and left a great impression on Oda." Among the group in attendance were the Director of International Scouting Jonny Clum, Assistant GM Josh Boyd, and even a Rangers prospect from Korea, Seong-Jun Kim.

The Dodgers, however, will likely have a leg up on the competition, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto is apparently Oda's favorite player. They were also the only team he follows on Instagram coming into this process.

The international signing period opens on January 15th, but it remains to be seen if that stays in place once a shutdown of the game likely goes into effect on December 1st amidst the stalemate between owners & players in the collective bargaining talks.