Royals AAA. Pirates trade. MLB debut. Released. Signed in Japan. All in the same year.

In this episode of Pacific Swings, we sit down with Cam Devanney, whose 2024 was the most chaotic season imaginable - and ended with him becoming the newest Hanshin Tiger. From a 15th-round senior sign to a legitimate MLB shortstop prospect heading to one of Japan's most passionate fanbases, Cam breaks down the journey.

David MacKinnon delivers a full NPB Survival Guide for Hanshin's new infielder, covering everything from the notorious daily in-and-out drills to why Japanese fastballs ride differently to the cultural shock of silent subway commutes.

Topics Include:

• The same-day release-to-signing timeline
• Team USA's Premier 12 experience in Japan
• Why Hanshin are the "Cubs of Japan"
• Dave's insider tips on NPB pitching (fastball-splitter-curve dominance)
• Playing in front of 45,000 fans vs 3,000 in AAA
• The 42-day Duolingo streak
• 12-inning ties and why they just... end

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: MLBデビューから阪神タイガースへ：キャム・デバニーの日本への道 エピソードノート: 2024年シーズン、ロイヤルズAAA、パイレーツへのトレード、MLBデビュー、解雇、そして同日に阪神タイガースと契約という激動の1年を経験したキャム・デバニーが登場。デビッド・マッキノンがNPBサバイバルガイドを伝授します。 主要トピック: プレミア12での日本体験、阪神ファンの熱狂、NPBの投球スタイル、日本での生活準備 シーズン番号: 1 キーワード: キャム・デバニー、阪神タイガース、NPB、日本野球、MLBデビュー

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: MLB 데뷔에서 한신 타이거스까지: 캠 데바니의 일본행 에피소드 노트: 2024시즌 로열스 AAA, 파이리츠 트레이드, MLB 데뷔, 방출, 그리고 같은 날 한신 타이거스 계약이라는 격동의 한 해를 보낸 캠 데바니가 출연. 데이비드 맥키넌이 NPB 서바이벌 가이드를 전수합니다. 주요 주제: 프리미어12 일본 경험, 한신 팬들의 열광, NPB 투구 스타일, 일본 생활 준비 시즌 번호: 1 키워드: 캠 데바니, 한신 타이거스, NPB, 일본야구, MLB 데뷔

Two Seibu Lions aces. One former teammate who faced them both. Everything you need to know about the next NPB stars heading to MLB.

David MacKinnon (@dcmack24) joins us to break down his 2023 teammates:

• Kona Takahashi - The captain who hit 99mph in 2023 and deserves redemption
• Tatsuya Imai - The 26-year-old "rockstar" with the best stuff in NPB

Inside this episode:

🔥 "$250M for Imai might be cheap"

⚾ The "vertical slider" mystery (we still don't know)

🎯 Why Toronto might be the perfect landing spot for Imai

😅 David's horror stories from facing them in spring training

💰 Contract predictions that will shock you

"He threw me a slider that started BEHIND me and ended outside" - actual quote about Imai

Whether you're an MLB scout, NPB fan, or just love baseball stories from inside the clubhouse, this is the deepest dive you'll find on these two aces.

Full episode on YouTube (link in bio) and all podcast platforms tomorrow!

Hosts: @spnjrt & @dcmack24 Sponsored by @jaxathletics

#PacificSwings #NPB #MLB #SeibulLions #BaseballPodcast #JapaneseBaseball #TatsuyaImai #KonaTakahashi #MLBPosting #BaseballScouting #西武ライオンズ #今井達也 #髙橋光成 #野球 #ポッドキャスト

Dietrich Enns went from Yankees prospect to NPB (Seibu Lions) to KBO (LG Twins) and back to MLB with the Tigers and Orioles. The gap between MLB starts? 2,877 days. One of the longest this century.

In this episode, Dietrich joins David and Jasper to talk about:

🔥 Facing Schwarber, Harper & Castellanos in the 8th

🚂 Taking trains with Japanese fans after games

⚾ Breaking down NPB vs KBO vs MLB hitting styles

🦁 Which Seibu Lions pitchers could dominate MLB

👨‍👧 How becoming a father changed everything

"My stuff is so much better now... you just go out there and have fun and enjoy the game."

The Pacific Swings boost is real - he got called up 2 days after our first interview 😏

Hosts: @spnjrt & @DCMacK24 Guest: @dietrichenns

#PacificSwings #MLB #NPB #KBO #Baseball #BaseballPodcast #DietrichEnns #BaltimoreOrioles #DetroitTigers #SeibulLions #LGTwins #JapaneseBaseball #KoreanBaseball #MLBComeback #BaseballLife #PodcastLife #SportsPodcast #BaseballStories #오리올스 #西武ライオンズ