Around the Empire: Bombers to meet with 18-year-old NPB ace

The New York Yankees are reportedly scheduled to meet with 18-year-old Japanese pitching prospect Shoki Oda. Oda gained widespread attention during the 2026 Koshien National High School Baseball Championship and has decided to bypass Nippon Professional Baseball in favor of entering Major League Baseball via the international free agent signing period opening on January 15.

Featuring a fastball reaching up to 98 mph, Oda has attracted interest from as many as a dozen MLB organizations. Other clubs linked to the right-handed prep star include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets.