Asians In Baseball – Details, episodes & analysis

It's tiiiiiiiiime for TOKYOOOOO BASEBALLLLL!!! Kim and Scott discuss the Tokyo Series! The Dodgers explore Japanese culture, both MLB clubs are blanked by the Hanshin Tigers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga make history, Roki Sasaki debuts, and who is already in hot water with Kim for intent walking Ohtani in Japan?!

We are BACK, baby! Just in time to discuss the highlights from the off-season and the buzz around the Tokyo Series. And of course it's a beefy episode to kick off the season, what else would you expect from your favorite podcast about Asians in baseball where we just yap about Asians in baseball?!

The crew is back in full force, and not a moment too soon!

To kick us off this week, we’re excited to share that we were featured on Spectrum News! Thank you to reporter Taylor Schaub for spotlighting us! 

In position player updates, Tommy Pham is picked up by the Royals, Connor Joe and Lars Nootbaar are jamming, and Corbin Carroll has turned his season all the way around just in time to dunk on the Dodgers. 

Pitchers are crushing it this week: our guy Kumar Rocker makes a huge splash in his Triple A debut, Kenta Maeda finally gets a W, Kikuchi / Woo / Manaea continue to deal, and Yu Darvish is back!!

And Ohtani Talk finally gets the attention it deserves with the return of Naomi! His bobble head night has fans lined up 8 hours before Decoy’s first pitch, he makes history yet again in his quest for 50/50, and we prepare for his grand return to Angel Stadium. 

What are our guys up to in these last few days of summer? Let’s get into it!

In position player news, Christian Yelich’s season sadly ends, Anthony Volpe fights through the Kim Curse, Masataka Yoshida and Seiya Suzuki are hot, Corbin Carroll is officially back, and Shay Whitcomb enters the Asians in Baseball Cinematic Universe. 

Our pitchers look to cruise into the fall going strong: Brennan Bernadino commands a 0.00 ERA over his last 7 games, Yusei Kikuchi / Bryan Woo / Sean Manaea continue to post strong outings, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto participates in the Dodgers Foundation’s first ever dual language story time. 

In Ohtani news, did anything even happen these last two weeks?? We kid! He manages to get out of a pickle - but MLB misses with the caption, reaches 40/40 in true Hollywood fashion, and what the heck is going on with the Shohei and Decoy bobblehead giveaway?! 

Volpe’s elite baserunning: https://www.pinstripealley.com/2024/8/24/24226155/yankees-analysis-anthony-volpe-baserunning-aaron-boone-winning-player-shortstop

Corbin Carroll turns it around: https://www.mlb.com/news/corbin-carroll-hitting-home-runs-for-d-backs

Kikuchi’s translator Yusuke Oshima: https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/astros-yusei-kikuchi-translator-19665575.php

“Sneaky Sho”: https://x.com/MLB/status/1825720740928237601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1825720740928237601%7Ctwgr%5Ecdba0bf02340def224f09e26e6dd87da9ef2f65f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fmlb%2Fdodgers-shohei-ohtani-cool-rundown-mistake

Before we get started, a moment for the passing of Billy Bean, MLB’s Senior VP for DEI who spent the last 10 years promoting inclusivity and education in baseball and sports. Thank you, Billy. 

This week in position player news, we are alllllll over the place. Rob Refsnyder is subbed in after Jarren Duran’s suspension and comes up big with a walk off and a pep talk, Kim issues a public apology to Anthony Volpe who she accidentally cursed, Corbin Carroll’s stats suggest an upward trend, and we puzzle over the Kim Ha Seong homer-turned-ground rule double.

On the bump, Joey Cantillo takes the L but still has a decent line, Kikuchi continues to deal for his new club, Sean Manaea played a very memorable game of catch with some fans back during the All Star Break, and Shota is still solid and in the running for ROY. 

Ohtani’s BA dips below 300 (but still has 3 homers, 6 RBI, and 2 stolen bases in his last 7 games), Scott explains the unspoken rule of not swinging on a 3-0 count, and Shohei’s 176th home run ball will allegedly hit the auction block on 8/23 - if you have a cool $200k to spare, that is. 

Rob's walk off: https://www.mlb.com/video/rob-refsnyder-s-walk-off-rbi-single

Corbin's double play: https://www.mlb.com/video/brandon-pfaadt-in-play-out-s-to-bo-naylor-x8697

Kenta's interpreter Daichi Sekizaki: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2024/08/11/japanese-interpreter-daichi-sekizaki-essential-detroit-tigers-kenta-maeda/74666328007/

We are fully in the second half, and Asians in Baseball are HOT!

First off, congrats to Kelsie Whitmore and the US Women’s Baseball Team for winning Silver at the Women’s Baseball World Cup! Gold went to Japan, of course, in their 7th consecutive win. 

In position player news, Connor Wong and Rob Refsnyder hold it down for the Red Sox, Volpe is mashing even from the bottom of the lineup, Travis d’Arnaud has a 10-game hit streak, and it’s that time of year for Seiya Suzuki to turn up the heat.

Pitching is blessedly having a much better week! Kikuchi crushes in his first start as an Astro, Bryan Woo tosses a career-high 7 innings against the Phillies slugging machine, and Sean Manaea still got that Grimace Bump.

Slow Ohtani news week as he is still slumping, but of course that still includes being first to 30HR/30SB on the year and 3rd fastest player in history to achieve the feat. YAWN! (For legal purposes, this is a joke.)

Athletic article about Yusei’s pitches: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5677686/2024/08/03/yusei-kikuchi-astros-debut/

So much to discuss after the trade deadline! Let’s get into it. 

Scott and Kim will be doing an event in LA with the LA County Dept of Public Health Peer Resource Center on Thursday, August 15th - sign up at the link in our bio! Then, we welcome JJ Wetherholt to the AIB Cinematic Universe (thank you to listener Paul Kuo for the tip!) and chat exciting Asians in 2025 news. 

The trade deadline was chaotic as always! The high: Tommy Edman to the Dodgers. The low: Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros. The shock: a lot of DFAs over the past few months. But a tie at the top of the Asians in Baseball team leaderboards!

Quick injury report, but not without a big L. Christian Yelich avoids back surgery but will miss time to rehab, Bo Bichette returns to the IL, and Kodai Senga exits his season debut with a high grade calf strain that will take him out for the rest of the year. 

In position player news, we get into the Cardinals new HR celebration, Masataka Yoshida’s strong showing, Seiya Suzuki’s interpreter is fired, and Kyle Higashioka receives a replica Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of his grandfather, and we discuss the history behind it. 

In pitching news, Joey Cantillo makes his long-awaited debut (though against the Phillies), Bryan Woo leaves his last start but isn’t expected to miss time, and Sean Manaea is dealing with a season high 11SO.

And finally, Ohtani Talk. Don’t worry about this man. He’s still securely in MVP talks despite only being an DH, is predicted to make over $100 million in endorsement deals this year, and hits a homer at Minute Maid Park that leaves even Astros fans speechless. 

Upcoming LA event: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=SHJZBzjqG0WKvqY47dusgfaHvggm-jpCryAOtkYWBH9UMDdNV05ZNlYwMVROTU1EM0NUQlU0V0lJQy4u

Scott’s Substack: https://rscottokamoto.substack.com/p/shohei-ohtanis-legacy-for-me-begins

Cubs’ Tokyo series video: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9kmZlZRXb3/

Press release about Kyle Higashioka: https://tinyurl.com/u8cs5t3f

Welcome to the All Star Break!

We kick off our Midsummer Classic episode, of course, with the fits. Steven Kwan and Shota “Mike” Imanaga (II) opt for velvet, Christian Yelich dons mint green, and Ohtani steps out in a suit inspired, of course, by his dog, Decoy. 

Obviously the main event of the All Star Game is the game itself! Ohtani sets more records with his 3-run home run, Big Papi deems Steven Kwan “a bad man,” and Shota shows out for his new hometown of Chicago. 

But even before the All Star Break, Corbin Carroll has a much-needed 6RBI night, Travis d’Arnaud steals his third career base (and has two homers in the same game), and we’re not the only ones who thought Connor Wong belonged in Arlington. 

Lastly, Kenta is moved to the bullpen and builds his confidence against a former ballclub, Yusei Kikuchi has a career high 13 strikeouts, and we wish Oakland Baller Kelsie Whitmore good luck in her tryout for the USA Baseball Women’s National Team! 

Shotamania: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/07/16/baseball/mlb/imanaga-cubs-fan-favorite/

Connor Wong: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5633061/2024/07/12/red-sox-connor-wong-performance/

Steven Kwan’s suit: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9fyk8jBcgh/

Shota Imanaga’s suit: https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/the-hilarious-reason-behind-shota-imanagas-all-star-game-fit/

Christian Yelich’s suit: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9iAqyIuMcr/

Shohei Ohtani’s suit: https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-s-dog-decoy-pictured-inside-suit

We're rocketing toward the halfway point, and Asians in Baseball show no sign of slowing down!

Of course, we have to start by congratulating our 2024 All Stars! And Ryu Hyun Jin makes All Star history across leagues. Closer to home, the Dodgers celebrate Japanese Heritage Night, and we get into what Dodger Stadium is doing for the new influx of Japanese fans.

In position player news, Connor Wong brought back that dad strength from the paternity list, weird baserunning by Anthony Volpe leaves the door open for Masataka Yoshida to tie the game, Steven Kwan remains atop the leaderboard, and we get into the nitty gritty of what’s going on with Corbin Carroll. 

Our pitchers have a lot going on: Yusei Kikuchi is a valuable trade chip as we approach the deadline, Kenta Maeda is straight up not having a good time, Sean Manaea continues to ride that Big Grimace Energy, Orion Kerkering proves he can hang with the big dawgs, and Yu Darvish goes on the Restricted List. 

Lastly, in Ohtani Talk, Elly De La Cruz sets the new bar, Shohei’s “slump” continues but he still sets a couple of records, and we discuss the nightmare of what we think he will bring to this year's All Star Game red carpet.

ABC7 article about Dodger Stadium and the influx of Japanese fans: https://abc7.com/post/how-dodgers-shohei-ohtani-has-brought-new-wave/15030162/

Rob Refsnyder’s superman catch: https://www.mlb.com/redsox/video/josh-bell-lines-out-to-left-fielder-rob-refsnyder&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1720636262614551&usg=AOvVaw2PXm3WaywBoJNmSVXOy-vG

Volpe’s baserunning blunder: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-anthony-volpe-explains-costly-mental-error-vs-red-sox-as-new-yorks-miserable-slide-continues/

Summertime always brings the heat, and this season is no exception! 

Naomi was our field correspondent this week, reporting on her pick for the Most Asian MLB stadium. And don’t forget, phase 1 All Star Voting is still going until June 27th! 

Congrats is in order in position player news, as Connor Wong goes to the paternity list in the middle of his 13-game hitting streak! IKF shines with his first career multi-homer game, Yeli hits his 200th career homer, Steven Kwan is still tearing it up, and not one but TWO Taiwanese players sign with MLB teams. 

In pitching, Shota Imanaga has seen better days (but leave him alone!), Sean Manaea takes a no hitter into the 6th on a day when the Mets offense does not have the Grimace bump, and Yuki Matsui is cruising.

Our favorite MLB Fashion Icon, Shohei Ohtani, debuts his signature New Balance collection, gains power from the new Dodgers City Connects, and proves his “slump” is a thing of the past. 

Steven Kwan profile in The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5583940/2024/06/24/guardians-steven-kwan-pinball-hitting-success/

Nice article about Orion Kerkering: https://www.phillyvoice.com/phillies-news-analysis-orion-kerkering-bullpen-stats-rob-thomson-matt-strahm-jeff-hoffman/