How to Play Pro Baseball in Japan | Japan Winter League 2026 with Hiro Sakanashi

How to Play Pro Baseball in Japan | Japan Winter League 2026 with Hiro Sakanashi

We sat down with Hiro Sakanashi to break down everything you need to know about the Japan Winter League 2026 — one of the best showcase opportunities for players looking to sign with a team in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, or Europe. Hiro covers: 📋 How registration works and when to sign up (opened June 1st, 2026) 🏟️ League structure — Advanced League vs. Tryout League 🎯 What Japanese scouts are actually looking for in foreign players 🛣️ Independent league pathways to NPB via the BC League & Shikoku Island League 💴 Costs, housing, and what's included in your registration 📊 How Trackman & live data give you a real shot at getting noticed The league runs November 21 – December 18 at a professional NPB spring training facility in Okinawa. Early bird pricing is available through the end of August. Don't wait — register as soon as spots open. Use code BBJO2026 for a discount when signing up here: https://japanleague.palettetree.jp/form/jwl2026 📩 Contact: BBJO or reach Hiro directly on Instagram @coachsaka

He Now Lives in New Zealand and Pitches for Their National Team

Connor Perry, a left-handed pitcher from Arizona, went from a 5.66 ERA in college at Presentation College (NAIA) to building a professional career overseas. After joining Baseball Jobs Overseas, he found success in New Zealand and Germany—two seasons that transformed his game and confidence. Now, in 2025, he lives abroad full-time, pitching for a national team and facing former MLB players and prospects. In this interview, Connor breaks down how he made it happen.

From Redshirt to .600 Overseas: Tyler Aasland’s Global Softball Journey

When Tyler Aasland finished her collegiate career, the path forward wasn’t obvious. After redshirting at the Division I level and seeing limited playing time in Division II, she could have walked away from the game. Instead, she took a leap — and that leap took her across the world. In this episode of the Baseball Jobs Overseas podcast, Tyler shares how playing in the Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Spain transformed not only her softball career, but her identity as an athlete and coach. Overseas, she became a consistent starter, hit over .400 season after season, and even captured a Best Hitter award after batting .611 at the European Cup Winners Cup. Tyler opens up about adjusting to new cultures and league standards, balancing life far from home, and stepping into a player/coach role abroad. She also dives into how her background in behavioral neuroscience shapes her coaching philosophy — especially her commitment to “explaining the why” behind every drill and adjustment. For athletes considering the overseas route, this conversation is a powerful reminder: sometimes the opportunity you’re looking for isn’t at home — it’s waiting in another country.

Imposter Syndrome to Impact Player: Evan Symons’ Overseas Breakthrough

In this episode, we sit down with Canadian ballplayer Evan Symons to trace an unconventional and inspiring baseball journey, from little league in East Vancouver to becoming an overseas MVP. Evan shares how walking on at the University of Ottawa (Canada), helping transform its club program, and embracing leadership roles off the field prepared him for life abroad with BBJO. He reflects on his first overseas contract in the Austrian second division, a breakout season in his second season overseas, and the powerful community impact of coaching youth players. Evan also dives into his memorable performances with the Globetrotters at Finkstonball and the Milan tournament, being served dugout snacks by World Series winner Jeremy Guthrie, and overcoming long-standing “imposter syndrome.” It’s a story of resilience, open-mindedness, and how playing overseas can completely change a player’s confidence and their life.

From Overseas to Pitching at a Packed Fenway Park to YouTube Content Creator

On this episode of the Baseball Jobs Overseas Podcast, we chat with Ethan Skuija, the Canadian flame-thrower who once led the BBJO Globetrotters to a Prague Baseball Week championship by shutting down the Spanish National Team. Ethan was touching 97 mph and on MLB scouts’ radar, but the call never came. Instead, his journey took him to pitching at Fenway Park and now creating a fast-growing YouTube channel. Tune in as Ethan shares the inside story of chasing the dream, finding “second best,” and why it might just be better than the original plan. With a fastball sitting 94–96 mph and touching 97, Ethan drew plenty of attention from MLB scouts, but the call never came. While that frustration could have ended many careers, Ethan’s path instead led him to unforgettable moments—like pitching in front of a packed house at Fenway Park—and ultimately to his current role as a popular baseball content creator on YouTube. In this conversation, Ethan opens up about the highs, the setbacks, and how he turned what felt like a “second best” into a fulfilling career in the game he loves.