In Part 2 of Pacific Swings, David MacKinnon and Jasper Spanjaart continue their conversation with Gosuke Katoh, diving into the mental strategies and development philosophies that shaped his unique career path.

After 10 years grinding through six different MLB organizations, Gosuke finally reached the majors with Toronto before setting NPB rookie records with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Now at 30, he's bringing that experience to the Blue Jays front office, evaluating players with a perspective few scouts can match.

Key Topics Covered:

• How different organizations approach player development - from Yankees' power focus to Blue Jays' contact-heavy approach
• Why contact hitting is finally getting valued in modern baseball
• The "I am invincible" mindset he told himself every at-bat to reach league-average confidence
• Managing 10 years of slumps and why experience breeds fearlessness
• Meeting childhood idol Ichiro and learning the importance of routine
• Why he chose Toronto's front office over other opportunities, including the Fighters
• NPB vs MLB development: Japanese infield instruction is "next level"
• The pitch clock and tie debate - why NPB needs both changes
• Kiyomiya Kotaro: The Bryce Harper of Japan and why he's so impressive
• Watching young Fighters teammates succeed in NPB today
• His advice to his 18-year-old self struggling in rookie ball: "Just never give up. A lot of good things will happen."

"The first couple years were the hardest. I was miserable every day in rookie ball. But you just gotta keep going. Me and Mac have the same trajectory - in the end, you just gotta keep going."

From the pressure of being an 18-year-old second-round pick to scouting for a top-5 payroll MLB team, Gosuke's journey shows that persistence and adaptation create opportunities talent alone never could.

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（後編）

パート2では、加藤豪将の独特なキャリアパスを形作ったメンタル戦略と育成哲学を深掘りします。

主要トピック:

• 球団ごとの選手育成哲学の違い - ヤンキースのパワー重視からブルージェイズのコンタクト重視まで
• コンタクト打法がついに評価される理由
• 打席で自分に言い聞かせた「無敵」マインドセット
• 10年間のスランプ管理と経験が生む恐れ知らず
• 憧れのイチローとの出会いとルーティンの重要性
• ファイターズを含む他のオファーではなくトロントのフロントオフィスを選んだ理由
• NPB vs MLB育成：日本の内野守備指導は「次元が違う」
• ピッチクロックと引き分け論争 - NPBが両方必要な理由
• 清宮幸太郎：日本のブライス・ハーパーと彼が印象的な理由
• 若手ファイターズの同僚が今NPBで活躍する姿を見る喜び
• ルーキーリーグで苦しむ18歳の自分へのアドバイス：「諦めるな。良いことが起こる」

「最初の数年が一番辛かった。ルーキーボールで毎日惨めだった。でも続けるしかない。俺とマックは同じ軌跡をたどった - 結局、続けるしかないんだ」

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 15 Part 2 加藤豪将インタビュー 後編

キーワード: 加藤豪将、選手育成、メンタルゲーム、イチロー、清宮幸太郎、トロント・ブルージェイズ、日本ハムファイターズ