Sponsored by JAX Athletics - Premium baseball and softball batting gloves. Use code PACIFICSWINGS for 15% off at jaxathletics.com

In this episode of Pacific Swings, David MacKinnon reunites with his 2023 Seibu Lions teammate Mark Payton for a conversation that goes beyond the box scores—diving into injuries, Japanese baseball culture, and the reality of playing in NPB when everything goes wrong.

Mark Payton was drafted by the Yankees in 2013 and made his MLB debut with Oakland in 2020. In 2023, he signed with the Seibu Lions alongside David, becoming instant teammates and the only English-speaking position players on the roster. But their season together didn't go as planned—Mark faced a series of devastating injuries that turned his year into a test of mental toughness and perseverance.

Key Topics Covered:

• The infamous press conference where Mark forgot his Japanese and just said "Hi, I'm Mark"
• Spring training in Miyazaki - waking up at 3am with 14-hour time difference and nowhere to go
• Why Japanese defensive practice is completely different and lasts for hours
• The stretcher incident - Mark gets hit in the head by a 92mph fastball and is carried off the field
• Rolling his ankle during backward skipping warmups three days before opening day
• Rehabbing alone in Tokyo - watching David play while stuck doing treatment
• Why Yamashita Shunpeita of Orix might be the best pitcher Mark's ever faced (better than MLB)
• Genda Sosuke's defense - potentially the best defender in the world
• Japanese fan culture - traveling with supporters, custom t-shirts, and loyalty through slumps

From being carried off on a stretcher to discovering the best BBQ in Tokyo during rehab, from dealing with injuries to battling through turf-field pain with icy hot and tape, Mark's story is about resilience, adaptation, and the bond between teammates who lean on each other when everything falls apart.

This is the Lions Reunion Episode - two Americans who lived the same experience but had completely different years.

Sponsored by JAX Athletics - Premium baseball and softball batting gloves. Use code PACIFICSWINGS for 15% off at jaxathletics.com

Hosts: Jasper Spanjaart & David MacKinnon

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#PacificSwings #MarkPayton #SeibuLions #DavidMacKinnon #NPB #JapaneseBaseball #BaseballPodcast #西武ライオンズ #プロ野球

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: ライオンズ：再会エピソード

2023年、西武ライオンズで共に戦ったマーク・ペイトンとデビッド・マキノンが再会。怪我、日本の野球文化、そしてNPBでプレーする現実について語ります。

主要トピック:

• 悪名高い記者会見「はい、マークです」
• 宮崎春季キャンプ - 午前3時に目覚める日々
• ペッパー練習での苦戦
• 開幕3日前の後ろ向きスキップでの足首負傷
• 東京での孤独なリハビリ生活
• 怪我中の東京探索
• オリックス・山下舜平大投手について

キーワード: マーク・ペイトン、西武ライオンズ、デビッド・マキノン、怪我、リハビリ、記者会見、山下舜平大、源田壮亮

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 라이온즈: 재회 에피소드

2023년 세이부 라이온즈에서 함께 뛴 마크 페이튼과 데이비드 매키넌이 재회. 부상, 일본 야구 문화, NPB에서 플레이하는 현실에 대해 이야기합니다.

주요 주제:

• 기자회견 실패담
• 미야자키 춘계 캠프
• 일본의 수비 연습
• 머리에 맞은 공과 들것 사건

키워드: 마크 페이튼, 세이부 라이온즈, 데이비드 매키넌, 부상, 재활, 야마시타 슌페이타, 겐다 소스케