Rangers take important first step toward landing Japanese star that no one was expecting

The Texas Rangers have reportedly met with 18-year-old Japanese pitching prospect Shoki Oda, according to Japanese outlet Yakyu Cosmopolitan. The right-hander features a fastball reaching 97 mph and plans to bypass Nippon Professional Baseball entirely. Oda aims to transition directly from high school to Major League Baseball via the international amateur free agent pathway.

Writer Stephen Parello notes that Oda is also meeting with several other teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets. Oda will be eligible to sign when the international amateur free agent signing period opens on January 15, subject to potential CBA labor negotiations.