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

Retry

In this episode of Pacific Swings, David MacKinnon and Jasper Spanjaart sit down with Tyler Nevin, the Seibu Lions first baseman who's transformed from MLB organizational depth to becoming one of NPB's most consistent hitters and a legitimate batting title candidate. Tyler's having the season Lions fans have been dreaming about since 2023, opening up about why choosing Japan over grinding in Triple-A was the best decision he ever made.

Fresh off becoming the first player to 100 hits in the Pacific League and winning MVP honors for May, Tyler explains how he escaped MLB "survival mode" where you're just trying to get hits to avoid getting optioned the next day. Instead of worrying about his next paycheck, he's actually been able to develop as a player for the first time since Double-A ball.

Key Topics Covered:

• How he escaped MLB "survival mode" and finally found consistent playing time after five years
• The early 2-year extension that shocked NPB after just months with the Lions
• Growing up as Phil Nevin's son and learning from big league clubhouses
• That legendary Angels-Mariners brawl and Phil's player-first managing philosophy
• Breaking an 87-year NPB record by collecting all four of his team's hits in one game
• Playing baseball in the desert winds of Lancaster, California where mishits became homers
• Japanese fan culture: custom towels, kimonos, and why respectfulness matters
• Why he accidentally injured rookie sensation Seiya Watanabe twice
• Living in Tanashi vs American cities and the $40 grocery bill phenomenon
• Facing elite NPB pitching: Miyagi's six-pitch arsenal vs Moinelo's raw power
• The grand slam at Belluna Dome that made Jasper nearly fall out of his seat
• Why Japanese convenience store fish-shaped pancakes are elite snack food

Tyler Nevin is the first baseman for the Seibu Lions, the first player to 100 hits in the 2025 Pacific League season, May MVP winner, and holder of a rare mid-season extension after proving essential to the organization.

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: タイラー・ネビン：MLBサバイバルモードから西武ライオンズ成功への道

西武ライオンズのタイラー・ネビン選手が初登場！MLB組織の底辺からNPB最高の打者の一人へ、そして正当な首位打者候補になるまでの軌跡。日本選択がトリプルAでの苦闘より最良の決断だった理由を語ります。

主要トピック:

• パリーグ初の100安打達成、5月MVP受賞
• MLBサバイバルモードからの脱却
• フィル・ネビンの息子として育った経験
• 87年ぶりのNPB記録更新
• 日本のファン文化と田無での生活

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 13 Tyler Nevin Interview キーワード: タイラー・ネビン、西武ライオンズ、NPB、首位打者争い、一塁手、フィル・ネビン

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 타일러 네빈: MLB 서바이벌 모드에서 세이부 라이온즈 성공까지

세이부 라이온즈의 타일러 네빈이 첫 출연! MLB 조직 하부에서 NPB 최고의 타자 중 한 명이 되어 정당한 타율왕 후보가 되기까지의 여정. 트리플 A에서의 고군분투보다 일본 선택이 최선의 결정이었던 이유를 들려줍니다.

주요 주제:

• 퍼시픽리그 첫 100안타 달성, 5월 MVP 수상
• MLB 서바이벌 모드 탈출
• 필 네빈의 아들로 자란 경험
• 87년 만의 NPB 기록 갱신
• 일본 팬 문화와 다나시 생활

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 13 타일러 네빈 인터뷰 키워드: 타일러 네빈, 세이부 라이온즈, NPB, 타율왕 경쟁, 1루수, 필 네빈

Dave fired his translator app, paid to ride trains with his own face on them, and somehow convinced us he's funnier than the average Joe. Meanwhile, Jasper's threatening to sell Dave's signed NPB card for five bucks and we're introducing "Cartoon Dave" - complete with progressive beatdowns every episode.

In this episode of Pacific Swings Q&A #2, we tackle your burning questions about Asian baseball. From heated debates about whether Samurai Japan could win the WBC without their MLB superstars to Dave's embarrassing encounters with 19-year-old Korean robot umpires (yes, really), this mailbag episode has it all.

Key Topics Covered:

• NPB vs KBO talent levels - why players choose each league and Dave's hot takes on earning potential
• Samurai Japan without Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki - could an all-NPB roster still win it all?
• Young Seibu Lions prospects flying under the radar (spoiler: Watanabe and Takizawa are studs)
• Japanese stadium experience - beer girls with kegs, cheap curry, and why you can bring anything you want
• Umpiring across three countries - from robot zones in Korea to Dave thinking MLB umps are "almost like robots"
• Dave's NPB baseball card collection and the tragic story of his .235 batting average being immortalized forever
• Media relationships and social media - why post-game interviews are terrible for everyone involved

Dave also reveals he was never "gifted with a swing" like Mike Trout, explains why he timed himself up for 85 mph splitters against Japanese pitchers, and shares his master plan for live shows in Japan and Korea. Plus: Dustin Pedroia losing his mind in the most relatable post-game interview ever.

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: 太平洋スウィングス Q&A #2: NPB対KBO、MLB抜きの侍ジャパン、デイブの野球カード

デイブの翻訳アプリが解雇され、自分の顔が載った電車に運賃を払い、平均的な人より面白いと自分を納得させた第2回Q&Aエピソード。NPBとKBOの実力差、大谷・山本・佐々木なしの侍ジャパンのWBC優勝可能性、若手西武選手、日本の球場体験などファンの質問に答えます。

主要トピック: NPB対KBO実力比較、MLB抜き侍ジャパン論争、注目若手選手、日本球場体験、各国審判比較、NPB野球カード、メディア関係

シーズン番号: 1 エピソード番号: Q&A #2 キーワード: Q&A、NPB、KBO、侍ジャパン、WBC、野球カード、審判、球場体験

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 태평양 스윙스 Q&A #2: NPB vs KBO, MLB 없는 사무라이 재팬, 데이브의 야구카드

데이브의 번역앱이 해고되고, 자신의 얼굴이 붙은 전철에 요금을 내며, 평균적인 사람보다 재미있다고 스스로를 설득한 두 번째 Q&A 에피소드. NPB와 KBO의 실력차, 오타니·야마모토·사사키 없는 사무라이 재팬의 WBC 우승 가능성, 젊은 세이부 선수들, 일본 구장 경험 등 팬들의 질문에 답합니다.

주요 주제: NPB vs KBO 실력 비교, MLB 없는 사무라이 재팬 논쟁, 주목할 젊은 선수들, 일본 구장 경험, 각국 심판 비교, NPB 야구카드, 미디어 관계

시즌 번호: 1 에피소드 번호: Q&A #2 키워드: Q&A, NPB, KBO, 사무라이재팬, WBC, 야구카드, 심판, 구장경험

#PacificSwings #QandA #NPBvsKBO #SamuraiJapan #WBC #BaseballCards #NPB #KBO #JapaneseBaseball #KoreanBaseball #SeibuLions #UmpireComparison #StadiumExperience #YoungProspects #BaseballPodcast #AsianBaseball #ProfessionalBaseball #BaseballCulture #MLBvsNPB #BaseballMedia #SocialMedia #BaseballFans #태평양스윙스 #야구 #프로야구 #사무라이재팬 #세이부라이온즈 #太平洋スウィングス #野球 #プロ野球 #侍ジャパン #西武ライオンズ