Athletics Sign Japanese Teen Shotaro Morii in Record-Breaking Deal

The 18-year-old two-way player bypasses Japan's professional league to pursue his MLB dreams directly with a $1.51 million signing bonus.

Shotaro Morii, an 18-year-old two-way player from Japan, signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics, receiving a $1.51 million bonus—the largest ever for a Japanese amateur outside Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Morii has been a two-way player since childhood, excelling as both a shortstop and pitcher, with a fastball clocked at 95 mph and 45 home runs in high school competition.
Unlike most Japanese players who begin their careers in NPB before moving to MLB, Morii chose to join MLB directly to accelerate his professional development.
The Athletics praised Morii's athleticism, versatility, and passion for the game, with plans to develop him as both a hitter and pitcher in their minor league system.
This signing is part of the Athletics' active offseason, which also includes significant contracts for Brent Rooker and Luis Severino, as the team prepares for its future move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas.