Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, accompanied by interpreter Yusuke Oshima, joins host Trent Rush on this episode of the Under the Halo Podcast, the official podcast of Angels Baseball! Yusei shares his insights on the popularity of Major League Baseball in Japan, his mentorship of the young pitchers, his relationship with the Angels starting pitching staff and his teammates, balancing his personal and professional life, and more.
Catch the Under the Halo Podcast with Trent Rush all season long for in-depth interviews with Angels players, coaches, and other members of the Angels family. Watch the podcast at youtube.com/angels or listen at angels.com/fans, on the AM830 app, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Episode Time Stamps:
00:22 – Yusei’s sleep routine
1:16 – Japanese baseball and the Major League dream
2:02 – Yusei’s favorite baseball players as a kid
2:58 – The popularity of MLB in Japan
4:08 – “Has your time in the Major Leagues been what you hoped it would be?”
5:00 – Yusei’s love of reading
6:36 – His mentorship of young pitchers
8:06 – Balancing his personal life with the baseball season
9:12 – 2025 All-Star Game experience
11:13 – Mound visits and translated conversations
12:03 – Funny teammates
12:33 – The relationship between the Angels’ starting pitching staff
13:33 – Yusei’s friendship with Zach Neto
14:30 – Preparing for a start
15:16 – Level of fame in Japan
16:00 – Yusei’s career goals
16:45 – Conclusion
JP2021.COM - Tokyo Olympics 2020.