According to Baseball Cosmopolitan, the Athletics will make a splash with the start of the 2025 international signing period, signing 18-year-old two-way player Shotaro Morii to a $1.5105 trillion contract, making him the largest contract ever for a Japanese amateur outside of Nippon Professional Baseball. Earned the largest bonus.
Morii, a left-handed hitter who boasts a total of 45 home runs in high school, has also been measured to have a top speed of 95 miles per hour on a slope. Because of his potential to impact both sides of the diamond, Morii could be a top-10 pick in the NPB Draft.
“This is a historic day for our organization,” said Dan Feinstein, A’s deputy general manager. “Shotaro is a first for us and one of the few Japanese high school players to sign a contract directly with a major league team. …We will watch both pitching and hitting as Shotaro begins his development through the minor league system this spring. I’m worried and excited.”
Scouts see a long-term future in the batter’s box for Morii, but he will play his first full professional season at age 18, giving him a long developmental window to acclimate to the rigors of professional ball. will be given. Morii, who is highly scouted by A’s Pacific Rim coordinator Adam Hislop and Japan area scout Toshiyuki Tomizuka, is someone the A’s believe can be successful as a two-way player. He will join the Arizona organization for minor league spring training and will likely begin his professional career in the Arizona Complex League.
“We always knew Shotaro’s aspirations were to both pitch and hit,” Feinstein said. “The fact that we view him as a two-way prospect was definitely a selling point for us. We had internal discussions with pitching coaches, strength coaches and athletic trainers to improve his arm. We have a plan to not only protect them, but also get enough reps at both positions. What that will look like is up in the air at this point.”
When Morii stands at bat, he is characterized by his amazing balance and smooth swing. His high-octance pitching arm will serve him well as a shortstop, but his 6-foot-1 frame will also help ease his eventual transition to third base.
Morii becomes the latest high-profile Japanese teenager to carve his own path. Rintaro Sasaki, the nation’s high school home run champion, attends Stanford University and is expected to be drafted for the first time in 2026. The hard-hitting first baseman has already been active in the Draft League and Appalachian League this summer, proving his exploits.
Beyond his physical attributes, the A-Team quickly fell in love with Morii’s drive and passion for the game. He has a strong desire to be one of the next great players from Japan and aims to reach the major leagues within the next three years.
Morii, who has spent the past year learning English through online classes, said he models the types of players he admires and wants to be like on the mound and Elie Delacruz as a hitter. shortstop.
“Ellie Delacruz of the Cincinnati Reds is my favorite player,” Morii said. “He runs very fast, he has power and I love his personality.”
