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
