In this first-part of a two-part episode of Pacific Swings, David MacKinnon and Jasper Spanjaart sit down with Gosuke Katoh, the first player in baseball history to be drafted by both MLB and NPB, who just retired at 30 to join the Toronto Blue Jays front office.

Drafted 66th overall by the New York Yankees in 2013 as an 18-year-old, Gosuke spent a decade grinding through six different organizations in the minor leagues. Then many years later, he woke up at 3am in California to discover he'd made history - the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters had drafted him in Japan, making him the first player ever selected by both leagues.

After finally reaching the majors with Toronto, Gosuke headed to Japan where he set an NPB rookie record with 10 consecutive games with a hit to start his career. Now he's bringing that unique perspective to the Blue Jays front office, scouting and evaluating players while watching the game from an entirely new angle.

Key Topics Covered:

• The historic double draft - being selected by both MLB and NPB
• 10 years in the minor leagues across six organizations and what kept him going
• Waking up at 3am to discover he'd been drafted in Japan
• Why he felt out of place in Japan despite knowing the language and culture
• Playing for Tsuyoshi Shinjo-san and those custom jerseys at Es Con Field

From Yankees farmhand to historic draft pick to Japan Series contender to MLB front office - Gosuke's journey proves that persistence and adaptation can take you places you never imagined.

Gosuke Katoh is a baseball operations assistant for the Toronto Blue Jays, former utility infielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and the first player in baseball history to be drafted by both MLB and NPB.

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: ネバー・ギビング・アップ 加藤豪将（前編）

史上初のMLB・NPB両ドラフト指名選手、加藤豪将が登場！2013年ヤンキース2巡目指名から10年間のマイナーリーグ生活、2016年日本ハムファイターズからの指名、そして30歳でブルージェイズのフロントオフィスへ転身するまでの軌跡を語ります。

主要トピック:

• 史上初のMLB・NPB両ドラフト指名の舞台裏
• マイナーリーグで10年間生き残る方法
• 午前3時に目覚めて知った日本ハムからの指名
• 日本語が話せても感じた日本での違和感
• 新庄監督の下でのプレー

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 15 Part 1 加藤豪将インタビュー

キーワード: 加藤豪将、日本ハムファイターズ、トロント・ブルージェイズ、ドラフト、新庄剛志、イチロー

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 네버 기빙 업 가토 히데마사 (1부)

역사상 최초로 MLB와 NPB 양쪽에서 드래프트된 선수 가토 히데마사가 출연! 2013년 양키스 2라운드 지명부터 10년간의 마이너리그 생활, 2016년 홋카이도 닛폰햄 파이터즈 지명, 그리고 30세에 블루제이스 프런트오피스로 전향하기까지의 궤적을 들려줍니다.

주요 주제:

• 역사상 최초 MLB·NPB 양쪽 드래프트 지명
• 마이너리그에서 10년간 생존하는 법
• 새벽 3시에 일어나 알게 된 일본 드래프트 지명
• 일본어를 해도 느낀 일본에서의 이질감
• 신죠 감독 밑에서의 플레이

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 15 Part 1 가토 히데마사 인터뷰

키워드: 가토 히데마사, 홋카이도 닛폰햄 파이터즈, 토론토 블루제이스, 드래프트, 신죠 타케시, 이치로