The Athletics made waves to kick off the 2025 international signing period, inking 18-year-old two-way player Shotaro Morii to a $1,510,500 million deal, the largest bonus ever for a Japanese amateur outside of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to Yakyu Cosmopolitan.

A left-handed hitter with 45 high school home runs to his credit, Morii has also been clocked as high as 95 mph on the hill. That impact potential on both sides of the diamond made Morii a potential top 10 pick in the NPB Draft.

Scouts see Morii¡¯s long-term future in the batter¡¯s box, but he¡¯ll play his entire first pro season at 18, giving him a long leash of development as he acclimates to the rigors of pro ball.

At the plate, Morii features a smooth swing with tremendous balance. His high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop but could also help ease an eventual transition to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out.

Morii becomes the latest teen Japanese standout to carve a unique path. Rintaro Sasaki, the nation¡¯s all-time high school home run leader, is attending Stanford University and will first be Draft eligible in 2026. The slugging first baseman already enjoyed stints in the Draft League and Appalachian League this past summer, where he showcased his power exploits.