Who is Shotaro Morii? Meet the A's new two-way signing hyped as Japan's 'Next Shohei Ohtani'

It's a new era of Athletics baseball, for better or for worse.

With the A's officially moved out of Oakland and headed to their temporary home of Sacramento, any fans still standing by the franchise have been treated to a surprisingly active offseason. The team brought in free-agent starter Luis Severino and traded for another arm with a deal for Jeffrey Springs. Once the dust settled, the A's extended slugger Brent Rooker through 2029.

While it might be a stretch to call the Athletics the Dodgers of the American League, it's certainly a step in the right direction for an organization that has given its fans next to nothing for a handful of years now.

The most intriguing move of the A's offseason, however, might be the signing of a player you've never heard of.

Here's a look at Shotaro Morii and what he could bring to the table for the Athletics.

Who is Shotaro Morii?

Morii is an 18-year-old shortstop and pitcher who signed with the A's as an international free agent on Wednesday. 

While Shohei Ohtani has paved the way for two-way players at the MLB level, no one else has been able to do what he's done. Morii would like to change that. The new A's prospect told teams he wanted to be a two-way player, and it appears he will at least get a chance with the Athletics. 

"He's a very talented baseball player with enough athleticism and mobility to play both shortstop and pitch," A's assistant GM Dan Feinstein said in an introductory press conference for Morii.

Morii hit 45 home runs and pitched in three high school seasons in Tokyo, and the Athletics were able to "build a relationship" with him and his family while scouting him in Japan, Feinstein said.

Morii's decision is the latest in a trend of Japanese players choosing to come over to the U.S. sooner rather than later. In 2023, high school slugger Rintaro Sasaki made the unusual decision to bypass the draft in Japan and play college baseball in the U.S. at Stanford. Sasaki is set to begin his freshman season with the Cardinal in February and must play the standard three seasons at the college level before entering the MLB Draft if he proves to be a legitimate prospect. 

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Japanese ace Roki Sasaki is currently deciding between the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays after deciding to come over to the majors as an amateur free agent. Had Sasaki waited two more years, he could have cashed in with an exponentially larger contract. Like Morii, though, he wants to get started as soon as possible. 

"I didn’t want to regret about my decision when I think about my whole life and whole career," Morii said Wednesday, adding, “I wanted to join to the professional baseball environment as soon as I can."

Despite the comparisons he's received, Morii admitted he's still "far away" from Ohtani as a player but is aiming to "get closer to him as soon as I can." For an A's franchise starved for success, that would be a dream scenario. 

MORE: Shohei Ohtani named Sporting News Male Athlete of the Year

How old is Shotaro Morii?

Morii is 18 years old and is joining the A's out of high school. 

International signings are always a shot in the dark simply because the players are so young. Even the most polished prospect between 16-18 years old isn't polished enough to be a surefire major-leaguer, and it will take Morii time to become ready for the majors regardless of how well he plays at the minor-league level.

Still, it's not uncommon for high school-aged players to join MLB organizations. American high schoolers are eligible for the MLB Draft, and the only difference with Morii is that he had to go through a different process as an international player.

Shotaro Morii contract

Morii agreed to an amateur contract with a signing bonus of $1.51 million. Like international prospects who sign out of other countries, Morii will work his way through the A's minor-league system before playing on the standard six-year rookie contract at the MLB level if he does earn his way to the majors. 

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When could Shotaro Morii play for the A's?

It's no secret the Athletics could use plenty of help, even after beating expectations in 2024, but any path to the major leagues for Morii is going to be a long one.

Even a typical high schooler selected near the top of the draft typically requires 3-5 years of minor-league development before reaching the majors, with a few exceptions for high-level talent. Morii's learning curve could be even steeper than high school-aged Americans who join an MLB organization as he adjusts to American pitching and the way of life in general.

Morii is expected to start out at the A's lowest minor league complex before working his way up. His production will determine how quickly he rises through the ranks, but don't expect to see Morii wearing an MLB uniform in the near future.