Blue Jays Surge with Okamoto's Power | Toronto Blue Jays News

The Blue Jays are heating up on the West Coast with their third straight win over the Padres, positioning them strongly heading into the All-Star break in the tight Wild Card race. Kazuma Okamoto just tied Shohei Ohtani’s rookie record for homers by a Japanese-born player with his 22nd blast — a huge milestone that highlights the payoff of the Jays’ global scouting. Despite a shaky start, Shane Bieber settled in, throwing 4 2/3 innings with just two runs allowed — a promising sign as the trade deadline nears. Alejandro Kirk also flashed his old power with a key double, hinting at a potential comeback after his thumb injury. While pitching remains a work in progress, Okamoto’s power, Bieber’s growth, and Kirk’s resurgence offer real optimism as the Jays push toward the postseason. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e2073fbe54151319