On the field, 2024 marks a huge comeback for Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. In 2022, his first season with the team, he struggled to rack up strikes—almost half of the batters who faced him walked through to first base. He improved drastically during the 2023 season, allowing only 48 walks in almost 170 innings. And in the first six starts of 2024, his throws are stronger and more accurate than ever. Off the field, Japanese-born Kikuchi has made a home for himself and his family in Toronto, near the Scarborough Bluffs. “Being able to play for a team that represents not just the city of Toronto but also Canada means a lot to me,” he says. “Our fans are really passionate but not too rowdy or critical. I love that I get to wear the Jays uniform.” Here, he tells us how he stays game-ready even on his days off.
I usually get up somewhere between 6:30 and 7 a.m., and the first thing I do is shower. Most importantly, I turn the tap to cold for the final minute or so. It’s something I’ve done on and off in the past, but recently I’ve really focused on making it part of my everyday routine. There are real health benefits to cold water, like reducing your chances of getting sick. Plus I’m really awake by the end of it.
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I love to read, so I start my day with a book. Last year, I read 258 books, and this year, so far, I’m at just over 100. People often ask me how I keep count, but it’s actually pretty easy: I just look at my Amazon order history. I deduct the books I don’t end up finishing, which helps keep it accurate. Partially I get through them so quickly because I listen to some as audiobooks, but I’m way overdue to get a membership at the Toronto Public Library. My favourite book is Grit, which is about the power of passion and perseverance. I’ve read it several times, including once earlier this year.
While I’m going through my morning routine, my wife, Rumi, prepares a traditional Japanese breakfast for me. It includes miso soup, rice, fried eggs and salmon. There’s no better way to start the day. When I’m done, I make a protein shake and take about 10 supplements before heading over to the Blue Jays training centre.
I’ll generally make a quick black coffee at home, but if I’m in a rush I’ll grab one from Tim Hortons or, less frequently, Starbucks. I’ll drink it while I commute in for training, which I do on most of my days off. It’s about a half-hour drive to the Rogers Centre from my home in Scarborough, and I’m usually there and ready to start by 9 a.m. During the off-season, I focused more on lifting and strength training. I’m doing more actual throwing now that the season has started.
Training usually ends around 2 p.m., and then I need to focus on getting some carbs. It’s important to get my glucose levels back up after exerting myself. My wife usually packs a lunch for me with a lot of chicken and rice balls, but I also like going to Eggsmart—It’s really easy to track my calorie intake there. My go-to order is four eggs, over hard, with toast and a bagel.
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Then I head home and power-nap. I’ve gotten pretty good at them recently: I only let myself sleep for 20 minutes. When I wake up, I have another coffee and then do my English lessons. I really want to improve my English, so I’ve been meeting an instructor from Japan over Zoom for about an hour and a half every day. I can tell I’m getting better, but I need more time and practice to master it. I’ve started watching TED Talks on YouTube, which helps, but the next step will be podcasts. It’s easier to follow along in a video, where you can see someone speaking or use captions, but with podcasts I’ll be on my own. I’m looking for some about psychology, which is my favourite subject.
After I’m done with my lesson, it’s time for the highlight of my day: my four-year-old son Leo is back from school. I spend the next few hours with him, and I really try to take him outside and help him stay active. Leo knows baseball and soccer, so we’ll play those together. It can be difficult for me to shift my focus away from my work, but hanging out with Leo helps me prioritize my family.
I don’t tend to have super eventful evenings. Being an athlete is all about consistency, and focusing on my professional routine and time with my family helps me keep things straightforward. So nights are all about winding down.
If we’re not having dinner at home, I have a few favourite sushi places. I’ve started keeping them secret, though. Last summer, when it looked like Shohei Ohtani might sign with the Blue Jays, a rumour started that I’d made a reservation at a sushi place for over 50 people to celebrate. It wasn’t true, and of course, Shohei ended up signing with the LA Dodgers. But the whole affair taught me how easily I could lose my family’s privacy. It’s funny to look back on, but our peace of mind comes first. But I do have other go-to spots. One of the things I love about Toronto is that there are so many different cuisines, so I try to branch out. I love the Thai food at Pai—their pad thai is amazing, and I also enjoy the khao pad baan nok, which is a rice dish.
After dinner, we usually try to get Leo to bed by 9 p.m. Then Rumi and I will settle down to watch some TV or a movie. I recently binged Money Heist, which had my heart racing the whole time. I also rewatched Whiplash, which is my favourite movie. My baseball mentor was very hard on me, so I find it relatable.
To wrap up the night, I get back to my book and then head to bed no later than 11 p.m. I love my sleep. Plus, I need the energy to get up and get back to baseball.
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