In 2019, one of the final dominoes from the rebuild was tipped over and sent out of town – right-hander Marcus Stroman was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for prospect pitchers Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson.

Woods-Richardson was still a few years from seeing a big league stadium at the time of the deal but Kay made his Blue Jays debut shortly after the trade, appearing in three games.

The left-hander would make 28 appearances (seven starts) for the Blue Jays from 2019 through 2022, where he posted a 5.48 ERA through 70 2/3 innings of work with a 4.8 BB/9 and a 9.8 K/9. The Jays had the New York product shuffling between Buffalo and Toronto and from the rotation and the bullpen as they tried to find a spot for him on the roster.

Kay would be designated for assignment during the 2022/2023 offseason. After spending last season split between the Mets and the Chicago Cubs, the former top prospect reached free agency again. Kay took his talents overseas to Japan this winter instead of joining a Major League squad, joining the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Nippon Professional Baseball.

With the BayStars, Kay started the campaign in the Eastern League (the equivalent of the farm system) before joining the roster in the Central League – where he has remained all season long.

Through 22 outings working out of the rotation, the left-hander has composed a 6-7 record and a 3.05 ERA through 130 innings pitched. He has pitched one complete game and has allowed just 44 earned runs and 49 walks (3.4 BB/9) while striking out 110 batters (7.6 K/9). Kay has compiled a 1.277 WHIP and held batters to the confines of the ballpark, allowing just six home runs (0.4 HR/9).

Compared to the other BayStars starters, Kay ranks second in terms of strikeouts and innings pitched and has one of the lowest ERA totals as well – sitting behind only Katsuki Azuma. Kay is also joined by Canadian Rowan Wick on the BayStars pitching staff, with the right-hander boasting a 2.72 ERA through 41 appearances out of the bullpen.

After a tumultuous career stateside, Kay is starting to find some success while regularly working out of the rotation on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. While the terms of his deal with Yokohama aren’t disclosed, the 29-year-old is on the right path to return to the Major Leagues in the near future.