Asians In Baseball

Can you believe this is only the first month of the season?! First, this year's hottest collab is MLB x Kpop groups! And there are HOW MANY of our guys on the IL right now?! Then, position player news: Tommy Pham and the White Sox make it official, Masataka Yoshida could use some more playing time, Anthony Volpe takes a big swing on his birthday, and there are a lot of guys raking right now, but Travis d'Arnaud is the home run KING. And our pitchers are on fire! Shota Imanaga has a start to his MLB career for the record books, Yoshinobu Yamamoto silences the haters and shows off some gold glove reflexes, World Series Champ Dane Dunning has a 0BB 10K game, and Yusei Kikuchi and Shohei Ohtani face off in Toronto. So of course, we have to talk about Torontogate - Ohtani arrives at Rogers Centre to an ice-cold crowd, but his bat does the talking for him. And could he POSSIBLY pass the record set by Dave Roberts for most HR by a Japanese-born Dodger?!?! (Yes. The record is 7.) Travis d'Arnaud throws out JRam: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6UbYltuUk9/ Shota Imanaga becomes a meme: https://tinyurl.com/3fz6fedr Yamamoto saves his own life: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6MzDLApbNI/ Tickets to Kim's solo show Trauma Response on 5/4 in Minneapolis and 5/7 in LA! linktr.ee/kimcoopie --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

First, a huge thank you to Nikki Kay for featuring Asians in Baseball on Spectrum Sportsnet!! This week, we welcome 6 new players into the Asians in Baseball Universe, bringing us to 8 new guys this season and 46 known Asians in Baseball on MLB 40-man rosters!!! Welcome Matt Bowman (P - Twins), Joey Cantillo (P - Guardians), Freddy Tarnok (P - As), Cheng Tsung-Che (SS - Pirates), Riley O’Brien (P - Cardinals), Teng Kai Wei (P - Giants). Then, in position player news, we discuss the (now confirmed) Tommy Pham rumors, Volpe stays raking, multiple guys flash Gold Glove-caliber leather, and Kim Ha Seong hopes to play in Petco Park “for years to come.” In pitching news, Imanaga has a glorious 0.00 ERA through 15.1 IP, Yu Darvish lacked run support but his bud Yuki Matsui came in clutch, Brennan Bernadino proves he deserves more playing time, and Asians in Baseball get (sent) down, but we know they’ll get back up again. Finally, we discuss the updates from the Feds’ investigation into the Ippei case. Seiya Suzuki’s new Cubs commercial: https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/04/14/seiya-suzuki-and-willie-harris-got-together-on-a-must-see-commercial/ Kim Ha Seong’s post game interview: https://twitter.com/SammyLev/status/1774594685383905758 Stuart Fairchild’s sick diving catch: https://www.mlb.com/reds/video/gavin-sheets-lines-out-to-right-fielder-stuart-fairchild Alika Williams’ backhanded grab: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/video/javier-baez-grounds-out-shortstop-alika-williams-to-first-baseman-rowdy-t&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1713332327193311&usg=AOvVaw1HeIMmfiIs945BkkUMTIc7 Corbin Carroll’s smooth sliding snag: https://www.mlb.com/video/brandon-pfaadt-in-play-out-s-to-nolan-gorman --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

Asians in Baseball are ready to ECLIPSE the league! First, welcome Naoyuki Uwasawa and Jahmai Jones to the AiB Cinematic Universe! Then, position players: Anthony Volpe and Conner Joe are off to hot starts,Travis d’Arnaud walks it off already, Kim Ha Seong and Lee Jung Hoo adjust to their new roles, and Steven Kwan and the Guardians play in the path of totality. After the break, Kenta Maeda shuts down his former team the Twins, Shota Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto showcase their nastiest pitches, Dane Dunning tries to prop up the defending World Series Champs, and Mitch White is BACK, BABY! Finally, a little plea to lay off Ohtani, we check in on the Tommy Pham rumors, and big congrats to Arjun Nimmala for his first career homer! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

What in the KDrama is going on here?! It’s been a shocking week for Asians in Baseball, to say the least. Let’s start from the Seoul Series: a false threat at the Sky Dome, the unceremonious demotion of Go Woo Suk, Asians show up for the first official games of the season (on the field and in the stands), and Yu Darvish has still got it at 37. After the break, of course we have to talk about Ippei. The timeline that was - and is still - moving at a dizzying pace, the Ohtani press conference, and what this means from a cultural standpoint. And finally, Will the Thrill is back like he never left (because he has been working for the Dodgers this entire time!) Tisha Thompson’s ESPN Timeline: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39784809/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-mizuhara-theft-line Ohtani press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnlYgPCv438 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

New season, new look, same us! We’re back for our third season of Asians in Baseball, and although the season hasn’t even officially started yet, we’re off to the races. First up: trades! (Or lack thereof.) Tommy Pham remains a Free Agent with Opening Day looming, Ryu Hyun Jin returns to the KBO, the Mets and minors gain some of our faves, and Where in the World is Kim Ng?! Then after the break: The Dodgers and Padres have landed in Korea! We talk exhibition games, Seoul Series, which MLB team belongs to which country, the significance of Korean representation on AND off-field, and some trolls are mad about Ohtani’s finger heart. Lastly: RIP NAOMI’S NOTIFICATIONS. Ohtani announces he got married, and all hell breaks loose on the internet and our group chat. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

It may be the offseason, but Asians in Baseball are still putting in work! 2:55 - Ohtani STAYS BUSY. We discuss his introductory press conference (including Decoy, of course), his side gig as a GM in pulling Glasnow and Yamamoto, and his new Big Market Team persona. 41:08 - Free Agents have been flying! Lee Jung Hoo solidifies himself as the MLB version of a Kpop Idol, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and his plaid suit make their Dodgers debut, and is it somewhere in these Asian free agent contracts that you also have to have a dog?! 1:22:14 - Ooh baby are we ready for the Seoul Series! The first game sells out in 8 minutes, Kim Ha Seong’s been doing promo in Korea, the Dodgers and Padres are set to face off against KBO teams and the Korean national team in exhibition, and…are the Padres the Most Asian Team in MLB??? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

We did it, Sho!!!! 0:28 - YEAH WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT OHTANI! The rumors, the Dave Roberts Press Conference Heard 'Round the World, the Toronto madness, the enormous contract, the enormous contract deferral, what this means for the Asian/Asian American community, and more. (Though we recorded this on Wednesday 12/13 before the press conference, so we don't get to that yet!) 1:04:00 - Ohtani's not the only Asian in Baseball making moves: Kyle Higashioka comes home to SoCal with the Padres, Kenta stays in the Midwest to join the Tigers, Lee Jung Hoo holds down the Bay Area Asians in Baseball, plus many more free agent moves yet to come! Keep your eyes peeled, this wild ride isn't over yet... Lars Nootbaar's op-ed in the Player's Tribune: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/lars-nootbaar-st-louis-cardinals-mlb-japan-world-baseball-classic?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-playerstribune&utm_content=later-39782451&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

The postseason has come to an end, but Asians were still all over in the playoffs, end-of-season awards, and - of course - trade rumors! 🍾 3:38 - If you left your Asian player off your DS roster or reassigned him to relief pitching, it didn’t work out well for you! (And if you were the Dodgers…it still didn’t work out well for you 😬) 11:58 - Only 4 Asian players were in the CS, and a little amateur sleuthing (read: Googling) was the key to learning about one rookie’s Asian heritage 🕵🏻‍♀️ 16:50 - The World Series 🤩 H.E.R. opens the Fall Classic singing the National Anthem, Corbin Carroll shows true leadership in his first WS appearance, and Tommy Pham opts to help out a teammate over going for a World Series record (and for this, is awarded the highly-coveted Asians in Baseball World Series MVP award), and Dane Dunning emerges a World Series Champion 🏆 37:25 - Did someone say FREE AGENCY?! 🗣️ This year’s FA class is absolutely stacked with international Asian players - and that’s without mentioning a certain TWP 👀 And further up the chain of command, Kim Ng walks away from the Marlins after their egregious display of disrespect 😤 1:06:05 - Awards!!!! 🥇 We announce the Silver Sluggers as they come in live, three guys win Gold Gloves, and there are Asians in the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player conversations, obviously! 👑 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

It’s the playoffs, baby! And we’ve got you covered on all things Asians in the Postseason. 3:31 - Just a LITTLE Ohtani Talk to start us off. Shohei exited the regular season early, but what’s all this mean for 2024????? 13:16 - The Wild Card has already come and gone, but not before Kikuchi got thrown to the wolves, Yeli's bat wasn't enough to carry the Brewers, and Kim Ng made history yet again in the final year of her contract. 27:40 - Any Division Series game you watch, you could see Asians in Baseball! First up, the NLDS: Corbin Carroll and Tommy Pham lead the Dbacks into a battle with Dave Roberts’ Dodgers (very likely including Postseason veteran Kolten Wong), we’re bound to see some of Travis d’Arnaud with Atlanta, and is there possibly an Asian in Baseball on the Phillies?!?! 45:37 - In the American League: expect to see Kenta Maeda pitch for Naomi’s beloved Twins (whether in his rightful role as a starter or in relief), and Asians in the Rangers-Orioles matchup have limited Postseason experience in Dane Dunning and Shintaro Fujinami, but it’s sure to be a fun series. 7 players and 1 manager enter the Asians in Baseball Division Series…how many will take home the trophy? Only one way to find out... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

We’re only a month from the Postseason, and Asians in Baseball are in it to win it! 1:10 - Some quick Asians in Soccer/Futbol news! 3:44 - Position players are dominating! Masataka Yoshida homers in back-to-back games to break his “drought,” Anthony Volpe enters Yankees Rookie History, Steven Kwan takes a rare first-pitch swing which pays off in a big way, SD native Tommy Edman walks it off against the Padres two nights in a row, and Kolten Wong made his presence known with a huge splash in his Dodgers debut. 32:46 - Let’s talk pitching: Ryu Hyun Jin is settling in in his return, Bryan Woo is mixing it up with new pitches AND a barehanded play, Kodai Senga and the ghost fork continue to dunk on hitters, Shintaro Fujinami is soaring as an Oriole, and we give a few of our guys the Asians in Baseball bump. 46:30 - Oh, Ohtani. His agent has provided some updates on his elbow injury, a new oblique injury has entered the chat, the Angels try to replace him with a stand in at photo day, and we speculate on if we have seen the last of him this season. Anthony Volpe’s Jeter-esque play: https://tinyurl.com/2s42mb2z Steven Kwan’s “Chatting Practice” interview: https://www.mlb.com/video/chatting-practice-steven-kwan-82078 Dong A Ilbo article about Kim Ha Seong: https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20230905/4405330/1 Bryan Woo’s sweet barehanded catch: https://www.mlb.com/video/bryan-woo-in-play-out-s-to-spencer-steer --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

Testing, testing, is this thing on?! We took a few weeks off from recording and boy oh boy were those a BONKERS three weeks. BUCKLE UP. 1:08 - A special shout out to one of our listeners, we discuss our trips to Dodger Stadium for Korea Night and Petco Park for Kim Ha Seong Bobblehead Night, and the next generation of Asian superstars were crushing it at the Little League World Series 15:49 - Position Players! Masataka Yoshida and Seiya Suzuki are given some games off to rest and then come back with a vengeance, Stuart Fairchild returns to the majors and proceeds to hit an inside-the-parker, Corbin Carroll remains a superstar with his own bobblehead night and joining Mike Trout in the record books, Kim Ha Seong smacks his first career grand slam and continues to be the bright spot for the Padres, and Kolten Wong is a DODGER! 45:30 - Pitchers! The Dodgers finally sign a Korean with Jang Hyun Suk, Ryu Hyun Jin is finding his stride (and taking a page out of fellow elite pitcher IKF’s book), Bryan Woo is dominant after a brief stint on the IL, Sean Manaea is shaking off the first half of the season with a career high strikeout rate, Yusei Kikuchi is in control and coming into his own as an ace, and Shintaro Fujinami throws a “beautiful” pitch in his ongoing success with the Os. 1:03:05 - Nothing else to talk about from the last three weeks…just kidding. Devastating blow with the news that Shohei Ohtani has torn his UCL and will not pitch the remainder of the season. We discuss who is at fault, how we think this will affect him in free agency, and how it’s not slowing him down as a hitter. Stuart Fairchild’s little league home run: https://www.mlb.com/news/stuart-fairchild-hits-little-league-home-run-against-the-marlins Corbin Carroll’s parents unbox his bobble head: https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/corbin-carrolls-parents-go-viral-for-their-reaction-to-seeing-arizona-diamondbacks-rookie-get-his-first-bobblehead Adley Rutschman tells Shintaro Fujinami his pitch was “beautiful”: https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/orioles-adley-rutschman-told-shintaro-fujinami-missed-call-video-reaction-pitch --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

We’re officially in the second half of the MLB season, and the race to the postseason is ON. 1:21 - The Trade Deadline has come and gone! We’re stoked for more Asians in the NL West but sad to see some of our faves get DFA’d. 17:53 - Bats are staying hot for our position players! Macho Man’s slump is broken after chatting with Ichiro, Lars Nootbaar is on fire right now, Kim Ha Seong is “the best player on the team,” IKF celebrates not getting traded, and we welcome Alika Williams to the Asians in Baseball Cinematic Universe. 42:16 - Lots going on in pitching this week: Ryu Hyun Jin is back for his first start of the season, Shintaro Fujinami gets a bit knocked around but is still faring quite well as of late, Dane Dunning remains dominant, and Sean Manaea gets his first ever save. 54:07 - OHTANI TALK: the most anticipated trade in baseball did NOT go down by August 1st, but Ohtani made sure we still had much to discuss this week. His contributions in the double header against the Tigers were truly next level, we discuss the possibility of the triple crown, and we at Asians in Baseball have some fighting words for managers who intent walk him. Check out the Cardinals’ AAPI Heritage Night Lars x Tommy WBC Bobble Head! https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/tickets/specials/theme-tickets/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

Did you miss us?? We are back with a beefier episode than ever to cover the return of baseball post-All-Star break! 1:28 - A lot of random Asians in Baseball news! The Montgomery Biscuits temporarily become the Montgomery Kimchi, there is an Asian in Baseball in Barbie, the Dodgers and Padres are going to Seoul, there are helllllla Asians in the Women’s World Cup, and Arjun Nimmala is selected by the Blue Jays with the 20th overall pick. 16:08 - Position players my GOODNESS. Yu Chang and Choi Ji Man are back, Macho Man is now amongst Red Sox royalty by surpassing a Ted Williams streak, Corbin Carroll is still raking and even making it to third on a strikeout, and boy oh boy are there some HOT bats here in the dead of summer. 38:49 - Pitchers! The Blue Jays have a lot going on with the impending return of Ryu Hyun Jin, ALL STAR Kodai Senga continues to dominate, and Bryan Woo’s grandparents make a very special visit to see his start when the Mariners were at Oracle Park. 57:05 - Ohtani Talk! His pitching could use the bump but he’s still blasting homers, we do a special segment to try to convince him to come to a random (or not-so-random) team, and we discuss the trade rumor mill…and how it seems like it’s a bit stalled out. 1:29:47 - The trade deadline is rapidly approaching! Shintaro Fujinami makes a cross-country move to the Orioles, we discuss some non-trade roster moves, and we’re keeping our eyes peeled for a couple of other potential trades for our guys. Arjun Nimmala is drafted by the Jays: https://tinyurl.com/34fec72m Corbin Carroll’s…strikeout triple?? https://tinyurl.com/47544jt5 Bryan Woo’s grandparents see him pitch for the first time: https://tinyurl.com/yc7fn35h --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

We’re off this week, so as promised, here’s a profile on one of our favorite guys, Yu Darvish. Yu has a long baseball history, from MLB scouts trying to draft him out of high school in Japan to being a 5x MLB All-Star to dealing with anti-Asian racism in the 2017 World Series. He is truly one of the greats - we love you Yu! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

It’s comeback season, baby! 2:12 - Corbin Carroll and Shohei Ohtani are the only Asians to make it through the first round of All-Star voting! (We recorded this before they announced the teams, forgive the late news) 2:58 - It was a hot week in pitching! Dane Dunning nearly throws a complete game, Kenta Maeda is back from the IL, and Yusei Kikuchi is still dominating on the mound…and being microaggressed off the field. 20:09 - Position players were crushing this week: Kyle Higashioka catches Domingo German’s perfect game, several guys’ bats are hot hot hot, Bligh Madris enters the Asians in Baseball Cinematic Universe, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa is coming for Ohtani’s gig. 55:46 - Ohtani Talk! We saw peak Ohtani x Angels this week as he struck out 12 Dodgers and still took the L, he had his first multi-homer game as a pitcher, and the Angels are doubling down on their big bet. Bligh Madrid’s debut article: https://www.mlb.com/news/bligh-madris-first-palauan-player-in-majors Seiya Suzuki is reeling in Ohtani: https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/seiya-suzuki-makes-his-pitch-to-shohei-ohtani-in-hilarious-fashion/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

Asians in Baseball were RAKING this week! Let’s discuss: 1:06 - Our position players went HAM this week! Three guys hit elusive triples, IKF executes a true steal of home, Tommy Edman smacks a 2-out grand slam, Travis d’Arnaud’s 100th homer is a moonshot, and Corbin Carroll stays elite. 24:56 - We offer the Asians in Baseball bump to some of our pitchers, Dane Dunning gets another W, Bryan Woo is looking solid for the Mariners, Robert Stephenson is doing great on his new team, and Brennan Bernadino had an awesome profile come out this week. 31:36 - Ohtani Talk! No wonder the man is tired: he’s on a 15-game hitting streak, leads MLB in homers and RBI, leads the AL in exit velo…as a hitter AND pitcher, and leads the Angels in…well, everything. 51:50 - We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. We discuss the protest of their appearance at the Dodgers and how all LGBTQIA+ people and people of marginalized and underrepresented groups should feel safe and welcomed everywhere, including baseball. (CW: sexual abuse) IKF steals home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9bjjDX-zI Tommy Edman’s grand slam: https://www.mlb.com/video/tommy-edman-hits-a-grand-slam-7-to-right-field-nolan-arenado-scores-dylan Corbin Carroll’s elite stats: https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/06/19/corbin-carroll-diamondbacks-100-games-mvp-race Brennan Bernadino’s MLB profile: https://www.mlb.com/news/brennan-bernardino-mlb-journey-around-the-world Straight White American Jesus episode about the Sisters: https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/the-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-and-trans-antaganism/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

Another day, another impressive showing of Asians in Baseball! 1:10 - Keep voting to send our guys to the All-Star Game! 6:14 - McCormick Spices sends Lars Nootbaar a special get well soon gift 7:31 - Corbin Carroll is helping launch the Dbacks to a huge season, Rob Refsnyder signs an extension with the Red Sox, Tommy Pham has found his stride, multiple players flash the leather to get their teams the win, and Anthony Volpe gets hits with a little help from his friends 28:30 - Yu Darvish gets his 100th win! Mitch White makes his 2023 debut in relief after a long stint on the IL, Brennan Bernadino is holding it down for the Red Sox, a trade breaks the tie on which team has the most Asians in Baseball, and Robert Stephenson proudly reps his Filipino heritage in a gift to his mom 40:24 - Ohtani Talk: Shohei is tired, which makes sense considering he’s been busy hitting bombs and hanging out atop the leaderboards Tommy Edman robs XBH on the warning track: https://www.mlb.com/news/tommy-edman-stabilizing-cardinals-outfield Kim Ha Seong’s cannon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61nwWIaerno Steven Kwan’s diving catch: https://www.mlb.com/video/jose-altuve-singles-on-a-sharp-line-drive-to-left-fielder-steven-kwan-mar-x3759 Robert Stephenson and his mom at AAPI Heritage Night: https://www.mlb.com/news/robert-stephenson-pays-tribute-to-philippines-with-cleats --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

Crank the air conditioning, because Asians in Baseball are STAYING HOT. 0:49 - All-Star Game voting is open, and there are so many Asians to vote for! 1:39 - Position players are ON FIRE. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is shining as a power hitter, guys all over the league were making leaping and diving plays, and NINE players are batting well over 300 in their last 7 games. 13:15 - Ohtani talk! He has his version of a down week...that still involves him smashing three homers. 22:48 - We’re only a month and change from the All-Star break, so of course we gotta get the Ohtani trade deadline rumor mill churning… 42:44 - Big week for Japanese-born pitchers: Yusei Kikuchi reaches not one but TWO milestones, Kodai Senga and the ghost fork continue to stump opponents, and Shintaro Fujinami gets his second win. All-Star Game voting: https://www.mlb.com/all-star Senga’s Ghost Fork in action: https://tinyurl.com/mryurwxr --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

This month to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Asian hosted podcasts, we’re bringing you an episode from Asian Americana, one of our sister podcasts from the Potluck Podcast Collective where host Quincy Surasmith explores the slices of distinctly Asian American culture and history. The episode we’re featuring is an exploration of Kala Bagai, a South Asian woman who immigrated to American in the 20th century and who also has a street named after her in Berkeley, CA. You can learn more about Asian Americana and our other Potluck Podcasts by going to podcastpotluck.com. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message

This month to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Asian hosted podcasts, we’re bringing you an episode from They Call Us Bruce, one of our sister podcasts from the Potluck Podcast Collective. They Call Us Bruce is hosted by Asian American community mainstays Phil Yu (also known as the Angry Asian Man) and Jeff Yang (prolific writer and celebrity dad), who, along with a guest or two, come together to discuss the good, the bad, and the WTF on the latest topics in Asian American culture and media. On the episode we’re featuring, Phil and Jeff are joined by Olympic ice dancing pair the ShibSibs, Alex and Maia Shibutani, who discuss their new childrens’ book about inspiring Asian Americans who’ve paved the way for today’s generation. You can learn more about They Call Us Bruce and our other Potluck Podcasts by going to podcastpotluck.com. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asiansinbaseball/message