Dodgers remain favorites to land Japanese high school pitching phenom

LAS VEGAS — Has Shoki Oda visited the Dodgers?“Potentially,” general manager Brandon Gomes said with a smile.Over the last week or so, the 18-year-old Japanese right-hander has taken meetings with several major league teams, but the Dodgers continue to be viewed in the industry as the favorites to land him.“Do we have a chance?” a high-ranking official from another team asked.The consensus No.1 high school prospect in his country, Oda has met with the Yankees, Tigers, Rangers, Phillies, Mets, Cardinals and Blue Jays, according to news reports in Japan.The Tokyo Giants, who selected Oda with their first-round pick in the recent Nippon Professional Baseball draft, visited Yokohama High School this week but were unable to meet with the player.Following his selection in the NPB draft, Oda said he remained set on starting his career in the United States.

Yokohama High baseball coach Hiroaki Murata told reporters in Japan that he didn’t think the appointment of former Yankees star Hideki Matsui as the Tokyo Giants manager would change Oda’s mind.Oda is represented by the same Japanese management company that facilitated Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s and Roki Sasaki’s move to the major leagues.“He’s super talented, really projectable, fun to watch him throw,” Gomes said.“I know our international guys have watched him closely, and you know, I’m not sure how that all shakes out exactly.

But we think really highly of him.”The Dodgers’ greatest obstacle in landing Oda could be the upcoming work stoppage.The international player acquisition system is collectively bargained, and baseball’s current collective-bargaining agreement will expire on Dec.1, at which point franchise owners will lock out the players.Oda would not be able to sign until a new CBA is ratified....