Gosuke Katoh

Gosuke John Katoh (加藤 豪将, Katō Gōsuke, born October 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2022 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Gosuke Katoh
Katoh with the Toronto Blue Jays
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – No. 3
Infielder
Born: (1994-10-08) October 8, 1994
Mountain View, California
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 9, 2022, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.143
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams

Career

New York Yankees
Katoh with the Trenton Thunder

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. In 2014, Katoh 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. For the 2016 season, Katoh returned to Charleston and batted .229/.320/.335 with 1 home run in 65 games. In 2017, Katoh 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.[2]

Miami Marlins

On December 18, 2019, Katoh signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization.[3] Katoh did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] He however spent the entire year in their alternate site in Jupiter, FL. He elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2020.[5]

San Diego Padres

On November 16, 2020, Katoh signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres organization.[6] 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.[7]

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 16, 2021, Katoh signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[8][9] On April 4, 2022, it was announced that Katoh had made the Opening Day roster.[10] 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,[11] but was recalled on April 14 after Teoscar Hernández was placed on the 10-day injured list.[12] On April 21, he made his first MLB start, drawing a walk and scoring a run on a Bo Bichette RBI.[13] On April 27, he got his first Major League base hit, a double, off of Boston Red Sox pitcher Michael Wacha.[14] On May 1, as MLB active rosters decreased from 28 to 26, he was sent down to the Bisons again,[15] and on May 4, he was designated for assignment.[16]

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.[17] Katoh was recalled on May 17th but was optioned again on May 21st. He was designated for assignment on June 16, then was sent outright to Syracuse.

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.[18] He signed with the Fighters for ¥114 million (approximately $850,000).[19]

References
  1. Cohen, Jason (June 7, 2013). "2013 Yankees Draft Picks: Gosuke Katoh". Pinstripe Alley.
  2. Eddy, Matt. "Minor League Baseball Free Agents 2019". Baseball America.
  3. "Could Gosuke Katoh play in majors for Marlins in 2020?". Fish Stripes. December 20, 2019.
  4. "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors.
  5. Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris. "Full List of 2020-2021 Minor League Baseball Free Agents". Baseball America.
  6. "Minor league moves tracker: Padres sign Katoh, former RB High star; Gettys signs with Red Sox". San Diego Union-Tribune. November 18, 2020.
  7. Eddy, Matt. "2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". Baseball America.
  8. "Toronto Blue Jays sign Gosuke Katoh to minor league deal with Spring Training Invite". MiLB.com.
  9. Matheson, Keegan (March 18, 2022). "Katoh finds great fit in Blue Jays, Ray's pants". MLB.com. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  10. "Minor league journeyman Gosuke Katoh makes Blue Jays' Opening Day roster". The Mainichi. April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  11. "Blue Jays' Zimmer active vs. Rangers, Katoh optioned to AAA Buffalo". Sportsnet. April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  12. "Blue Jays place Teoscar Hernandez on 10-day IL, recall Gosuke Katoh". Sportsnet. April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  13. Longley, Rob (April 21, 2022). "A debut day to remember for Blue Jays' Katoh". Toronto Sun. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  14. "Gosuke Katoh drops in a double for his first major league hit". Sportsnet. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  15. Dakers, Tom (May 1, 2022). "Jays Roster Moves: Katoh and Francis Down". Bluebird Banter. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  16. "Blue Jays select RHP Lawrence, designate Katoh for assignment". TSN. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  17. "Mets injuries and roster moves". Major League Baseball. May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  18. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20221020/p2g/00m/0sp/067000c
  19. "Baseball: Nippon Ham introduces former Blue Jays infielder Katoh".
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