Anthony Kay's stint in Japan has been a transformative experience for the right-handed pitcher. After signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, Kay sought to refine his skills in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. The 28-year-old had ambitions of dominating batters like he does in the States but struggled initially, giving up too many free walks.
Kay credited his success in Japan to gaining more confidence and finding a consistent approach on the mound. He made significant adjustments during his second year, including adding a sinker, which significantly improved his ERA from 3.28 to 1.74. This improvement also helped him control his wild pitches better.
During his time in Japan, Kay was consistently a starter, which contributed to his resurgence as a pitcher. The White Sox organization took notice of Kay's efforts and offered him a chance to return to the States. In a Zoom call with pitching coordinators and manager Will Venable, Kay expressed confidence that he had found the right fit.
The White Sox have 35 players on their 40-man roster ahead of Wednesday's Rule 5 draft. General Manager Chris Getz emphasized the importance of flexibility when evaluating potential trade targets. The organization is not looking to move any of its starting pitching prospects, including Tanner McDougal and Noah Schultz, as they aim to stretch them out as starters.
Manager Will Venable discussed his first year in the role, mentioning rotation openings that could arise as the season progresses. Getz stressed that these arms will be evaluated for their potential to contribute to the team's success.
For Kay, returning to the States offers a fresh start and an opportunity to translate his overseas success into major league stardom. With his new contract in place, he is poised to build upon his gains from his time in Japan and make a significant impact on the White Sox this season.
Kay credited his success in Japan to gaining more confidence and finding a consistent approach on the mound. He made significant adjustments during his second year, including adding a sinker, which significantly improved his ERA from 3.28 to 1.74. This improvement also helped him control his wild pitches better.
During his time in Japan, Kay was consistently a starter, which contributed to his resurgence as a pitcher. The White Sox organization took notice of Kay's efforts and offered him a chance to return to the States. In a Zoom call with pitching coordinators and manager Will Venable, Kay expressed confidence that he had found the right fit.
The White Sox have 35 players on their 40-man roster ahead of Wednesday's Rule 5 draft. General Manager Chris Getz emphasized the importance of flexibility when evaluating potential trade targets. The organization is not looking to move any of its starting pitching prospects, including Tanner McDougal and Noah Schultz, as they aim to stretch them out as starters.
Manager Will Venable discussed his first year in the role, mentioning rotation openings that could arise as the season progresses. Getz stressed that these arms will be evaluated for their potential to contribute to the team's success.
For Kay, returning to the States offers a fresh start and an opportunity to translate his overseas success into major league stardom. With his new contract in place, he is poised to build upon his gains from his time in Japan and make a significant impact on the White Sox this season.
... anyway back to Anthony Kay, I guess he's pretty good now? 
I mean it's cool that he was able to make some changes in Japan and stuff but I'm not really sure what the big deal is. Is it just because he's playing against different teams or something? 
And oh yeah, I saw a tweet that said the White Sox have like 35 players on their roster already, does that mean they're gonna trade some of them? 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to go from struggling to dominating batters? 
But seriously, it's awesome he found his groove and made those adjustments to become a consistent starter. That sinker move was genius 
! Now, with the White Sox giving him a fresh start in the States, I think he's got a real shot at making it big 
. Will Venable's faith in him is definitely paying off, and I'm excited to see what Kay brings to the table this season 
, it's about knowing when to chill out 
. I mean, sure, he adjusted his pitch, but so did a million other pitchers who flopped in the majors 
. Let's see how long that sinker of his lasts before hitters figure him out 
.
. And what's even more impressive is how he adapted to the Japanese league, which wasn't easy, let alone improving his stats in just a year. I mean, 1.74 ERA is crazy! 
One thing's for sure, he's got the potential to make some noise in Chicago 
.
. Now with his new contract and fresh start, I'm predicting big things from him this season 
️! Will Venable seems like the perfect manager to help him reach his full potential 
. And I gotta say, it's awesome that Kay gets to stay with the White Sox - he's going to be a superstar for years to come 
️!
, it shows he's been working hard to fine-tune his skills.
. I'm curious to see how Kay will perform in the States this season 
. Will he be able to carry over his success from Japan? 
. And let's not forget about Tanner McDougal and Noah Schultz, those guys sound promising 
.
. He's got his new contract in place and he's ready to build on what he gained in Japan 
I mean, have you seen Anthony Kay's stats in Japan? 1.74 ERA? That's insane! He went from struggling to dominating batters like it's nobodies business. I'm not surprised he wants out of there, fresh start and all that jazz... but can he take this to the States? 
. This could be a great season for Kay and the team! 
! The dude went from struggling to dominating, all because he found his groove and confidence in that foreign league 
. The White Sox is gonna love having him on their team 
. I'm tellin' ya, there's more to this story than meets the eye 
.
I'm so happy for Anthony Kay! He's come such a long way since struggling in Japan, and it's amazing how much confidence can make all the difference. I know it can be tough to adapt to a new league, but he persevered and made those adjustments that paid off big time 
. I mean, we all know he was trash at first 
, but comin' in with some "transformative experience" nonsense? Give me a break 
. It sounds like the Sox are tryin' to spin his struggles as a success story 
. Newsflash: just 'cause you're good now don't mean you were always that way 
.
. He's just another guy tryin' to make a name for himself in the league, and the Sox are willin' to take a chance on him 
I'm not surprised he's feeling confident after that time over there, i mean who wouldn't wanna be on a team where they can just show up and dominate games? 