Gosuke Katoh

Gosuke Katoh
Katoh with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2023
Infielder
Born: (1994-10-08) October 8, 1994 (age 30)
Mountain View, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 9, 2022, for the Toronto Blue Jays
NPB: May 25, 2023, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Last appearance
MLB: April 28, 2022, for the Toronto Blue Jays
NPB: September 7, 2024, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
MLB statistics
Batting average.143
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
NPB statistics
Batting average.202
Home runs6
Runs batted in17
Teams

Gosuke John Katoh (加藤 豪将, Katō Gōsuke, born October 8, 1994) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Playing career

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees selected Katoh in the second round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft out of Rancho Bernardo High School.[1] He made his professional debut for the Yankees' rookie-league affiliate, appearing in 50 games and batting .310 and was a Post-Season All-Star of the Gulf Coast League.[2] In 2014, Katoh was ranked as the team's 11th best prospect by MLB.com.[3] He played for the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs, hitting .222/.345/.326 in 121 games. The following year, Katoh split the season between Charleston and the rookie league Pulaski Yankees, batting a combined .239/.367/.334 with 6 home runs and 31 RBI. He was named a Post-Season All-Star of the Appalachian League.[2]

For the 2016 season, Katoh returned to Charleston and batted .229/.320/.335 with 1 home run in 65 games. In 2017, he played for the High-A Tampa Yankees, slashing .293/.376/.440 in 84 contests. In 2018, Katoh played in 118 games for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, posting a slash of .229/.327/.335 with 5 home runs and 35 RBI. Katoh split the 2019 season between Trenton and the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, hitting .267/.362/.401 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 113 games between the two teams. He elected free agency for the first time in his career following the 2019 season on November 4, 2019.[4]

Miami Marlins

On December 18, 2019, Katoh signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization.[5][6] Katoh did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] He was not included in the team's initial 60-man player pool[8] but spent the entire year in their alternate site in Jupiter, Florida. Katoh became a free agent on November 2, 2020.[9]

San Diego Padres

On November 16, 2020, Katoh signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres organization.[10] In 2021, Katoh played in 114 games for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, slashing .306/.388/.474 with 8 home runs and 42 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.[11]

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 16, 2021, Katoh signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[12][13] On April 4, 2022, it was announced that Katoh had made the Opening Day roster.[14] He made his MLB debut on April 9, pinch running for Alejandro Kirk. Katoh was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on April 10,[15] but was recalled on April 14 after Teoscar Hernández was placed on the 10-day injured list.[16] On April 21, he made his first MLB start, drawing a walk and scoring a run on a Bo Bichette RBI.[17] On April 27, he got his first Major League base hit, a double, off of Boston Red Sox pitcher Michael Wacha.[18] On May 1, as MLB active rosters decreased from 28 to 26, he was sent down to the Bisons again,[19] and on May 4, he was designated for assignment.[20]

New York Mets

On May 7, 2022, Katoh was waived by the Blue Jays but later claimed by the New York Mets. The Mets subsequently optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets.[21] Katoh was recalled on May 17[22] but was optioned again on May 21 without appearing in a game.[23] He was designated for assignment on June 16, then was sent outright to Syracuse.[24]

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) selected Katoh in the third round of the 2022 NPB draft.[25] On November 4, 2022, he signed with the Fighters for ¥114 million (approximately $850,000).[26] An oblique injury in March delayed the start to his 2023 season, and he made his NPB debut on May 25, 2023.[27] On May 30, he hit his first NPB home run off of Yuta Ichikawa of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.[28] Katoh hit safely in his first 8 games in NPB, surpassing Shūzō Aono, who achieved the feat in 1962 with Toei.[29] He would extend the hit streak to a final total of 10 games.[30] In 62 games for the team, he batted .210/.284/.330 with six home runs and 16 RBI.

Katoh played in 28 contests for the Fighters in 2024, slashing .172/.238/.190 with no home runs and one RBI. On November 2, 2024, Katoh announced his retirement from professional baseball.[31]

Post-playing career

On November 9, 2024, Katoh announced that he had accepted a role in the Toronto Blue Jays' front office.[32]

References

  1. ^ Cohen, Jason (June 7, 2013). "2013 Yankees Draft Picks: Gosuke Katoh". Pinstripe Alley.
  2. ^ a b "Gosuke Katoh Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Yankees Top Prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Baseball Free Agents 2019". Baseball America.
  5. ^ NJ.com, Mike Rosenstein | NJ Advance Media for (December 10, 2019). "MLB rumors: Another ex-Yankee joins Derek Jeter's Miami Marlins". nj. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Could Gosuke Katoh play in majors for Marlins in 2020?". Fish Stripes. December 20, 2019.
  7. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. June 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "Marlins Announce Initial 60-Man Player Pool". MLB Trade Rumors. June 28, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  9. ^ Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris (November 2, 2020). "Full List of 2020-2021 Minor League Baseball Free Agents". Baseball America.
  10. ^ "Minor league moves tracker: Padres sign Katoh, former RB High star; Gettys signs with Red Sox". San Diego Union-Tribune. November 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 9, 2021). "2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". Baseball America.
  12. ^ "Toronto Blue Jays sign Gosuke Katoh to minor league deal with Spring Training Invite". MiLB.com.
  13. ^ Matheson, Keegan (March 18, 2022). "Katoh finds great fit in Blue Jays, Ray's pants". MLB.com. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  14. ^ Bannon, Mitch (April 4, 2022). "Report: Infielder Gosuke Katoh Makes Blue Jays Opening Day Roster". Sports Illustrated Toronto Blue Jays News, Analysis and More. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Blue Jays' Zimmer active vs. Rangers, Katoh optioned to AAA Buffalo". Sportsnet. April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  16. ^ "Blue Jays place Teoscar Hernandez on 10-day IL, recall Gosuke Katoh". Sportsnet. April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Longley, Rob (April 21, 2022). "A debut day to remember for Blue Jays' Katoh". Toronto Sun. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  18. ^ Kreuz, Julia (April 28, 2022). "'I've been through everything': Katoh records first MLB hit". MLB.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  19. ^ Dakers, Tom (May 1, 2022). "Jays Roster Moves: Katoh and Francis Down". Bluebird Banter. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  20. ^ "Blue Jays select RHP Lawrence, designate Katoh for assignment". TSN. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "Mets' Gosuke Katoh: Claimed by Mets". CBSSports.com. May 7, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  22. ^ McShane, Chris (May 17, 2022). "Mets option Jake Reed, call up Gosuke Katoh". Amazin' Avenue. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  23. ^ "Mets' Gosuke Katoh: Sent down Saturday". CBSSports.com. May 21, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  24. ^ "Mets' Gosuke Katoh: Designated for assignment". CBSSports.com. June 17, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  25. ^ "College 2-way star Kota Yazawa highlights Japan's pro baseball draft - The Mainichi". October 23, 2022. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  26. ^ "Baseball: Nippon Ham introduces former Blue Jays infielder Katoh". Kyoto News. November 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "Fighters' Gosuke Katoh gets unique journey in Japanese baseball off to red-hot start". japantimes.co.jp. June 8, 2023.
  28. ^ https://twitter.com/yakyucosmo/status/1663851640611557378?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw
  29. ^ "データＢＯＸ 日本ハムＤ３位・加藤豪将、６１年ぶり快挙 デビュー戦から出場全８試合連続安打（サンケイスポーツ） - Yahoo!ニュース". June 10, 2023. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "【日本ハム】加藤豪将73年ぶりデビューから10試合連続安打、２リーグ制後の新人最長記録並ぶ（日刊スポーツ） - Yahoo!ニュース". June 10, 2023. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  31. ^ "x.com".
  32. ^ "Gosuke Katoh Retires, Joins Blue Jays Front Office". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.