Former Major Leaguer Heads To Japan

After making his major league debut this season following nine years paying his due in the minor leagues, 28-year-old California-born Gosuke Katoh is heading to Japan for the 2023 season. 

Gosuke Katoh officially joins Shinjo’s squad https://t.co/WLP0lCoUeL pic.twitter.com/MkBDZwCB94

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@baseballcosmo) November 4, 2022

He'll join the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan's NPB league. Katoh is an American but has dual citizenship in Japan through his parents. 

Katoh was a second-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2013 and played in their organization for six years. He became a minor league free agent and bounced around a bit until the Toronto Blue Jays gave him his first taste of the majors back in April of this year. 

Welcome to the big leagues, Gosuke Katoh! 🤩#NextLevel | @BlueJays pic.twitter.com/9Z3ADGjtjU

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 28, 2022

He would only play in eight games, however, for the Jays, and get 11 plate appearances. He had three walks and one hit—a double. 

He does have a career .270 average at the Triple-A level with a .793 OPS. 

Photo: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports