Title: Anthony Kay: From NY Mets First-Rounder to Japan Series Champion w/ the Yokohama BayStars | "Baseball takes you places you never imagined"

In this episode of Pacific Swings, David MacKinnon and Jasper Spanjaart sit down with Anthony Kay, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars left-hander who went from first-round draft pick heartbreak to Japan Series champion in one of baseball's most inspiring turnaround stories.

Drafted 31st overall by his hometown New York Mets in 2016, Anthony's dream quickly turned into a nightmare when he needed Tommy John surgery immediately after signing. Fast-forward to 2024, and he's throwing six hitless innings in the playoffs and celebrating Japan's ultimate prize with the BayStars.

Anthony opens up about the mental challenge of that year-plus rehab, why he's become a "completely different pitcher" in Japan, and how Trevor Bauer has helped refine his approach. From learning a devastating two-seam fastball to keep Japanese hitters honest, to understanding why throwing 500 batting practice swings daily is just normal in Japanese spring training.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Tommy John surgery right after being drafted and the lonely rehab process
• Why the 2024 Japan Series championship was every kid's dream scenario
• How he's transformed his pitch arsenal: 90-92 mph cutter and new two-seam fastball
• Trevor Bauer's mentorship and analytical approach to pitching
• Facing Murakami, Okamoto, and Sato - the Central League's most dangerous hitters
• The bizarre Japanese playoff system that gives teams free wins
• Why NPB training culture is completely different from America
• Learning to control emotions on the mound in Japanese culture
• How the strike zone is wider but shorter in Japan
• Why balls hit 440 feet only reach the warning track in Japanese ballparks
• The Cape Cod connection with David and those simpler baseball days

From Wareham Gatemen teammates to crossing paths again on Pacific Swings - Anthony proves that sometimes baseball takes you exactly where you need to be, even if it's 7,000 miles from where you started.

Anthony Kay is the left-handed pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, 2024 Japan Series champion, and former first-round draft pick of the New York Mets who has found his home and success in Japanese baseball.

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: アンソニー・ケイ：トミージョン手術から日本シリーズ優勝まで

横浜DeNAベイスターズの左腕アンソニー・ケイが登場！2016年メッツ1巡目指名直後のトミージョン手術から2024年日本シリーズ制覇まで、野球人生の波乱万丈な軌跡を語ります。

主要トピック:

• トミージョン手術とリハビリの孤独な過程
• 2024年日本シリーズ優勝の軌跡
• 投球フォーム改造：90-92マイルのカッターと新ツーシーム
• トレバー・バウアーとの関係
• 村上・岡本・佐藤との対戦
• 日本の練習文化とアメリカとの違い

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 14 Anthony Kay Interview キーワード: アンソニー・ケイ、横浜DeNAベイスターズ、日本シリーズ、トミージョン手術、トレバー・バウアー

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 앤서니 케이: 토미 존 수술에서 일본시리즈 우승까지

요코하마 DeNA 베이스타즈의 좌완 앤서니 케이가 출연! 2016년 메츠 1라운드 지명 직후 토미 존 수술부터 2024년 일본시리즈 제패까지, 파란만장한 야구 인생을 들려줍니다.

주요 주제:

• 토미 존 수술과 재활의 고독한 과정
• 2024년 일본시리즈 우승 여정
• 투구 폼 개조: 90-92마일 커터와 새로운 투심
• 트레버 바우어와의 관계
• 무라카미·오카모토·사토와의 대결
• 일본 연습 문화와 미국과의 차이

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 14 앤서니 케이 인터뷰 키워드: 앤서니 케이, 요코하마 DeNA 베이스타즈, 일본시리즈, 토미 존 수술, 트레버 바우어

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