Ask A RiverDog: Meet Gosuke Katoh

Gosuke Katoh is returning to the RiverDogs for a second season in Charleston. Katoh played 121 games for the RiverDogs in 2014, finishing with a .222 batting average and 71 walks. In the opening two weeks of the 2015 season, he already leads the South Atlantic League with 11 walks. On April 14, Katoh hit a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap Charleston's comeback victory over the Augusta GreenJackets. Since that night, the RiverDogs have only lost one game and are now in sole possession of first place in the Southern Division for the first time since June 21, 2013. Katoh was selected in the 2nd round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Steve Goldberg: Did you have a favorite team growing up in Southern California?

Gosuke Katoh: I always followed Ichiro because he was my idol. He was a Seattle Mariner when I first came to the United States in 2001 and when he went to the Yankees, I followed him and became a Yankee fan from that point on.

SG: How special is it for you being a Yankee knowing that your favorite player Ichiro once played in a Yankee uniform as well?

GK: It's awesome. It's a dream come true. To be able to put on the pinstripes is an honor every day and I just want to make it to the big leagues some day.

SG: What were your emotions when you were selected by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft?

GK: Initially, I was really surprised to go that high and go to a team like the Yankees with so much background, tradition, and culture. But it was a new chapter in my life and I was ready to get after it.

SG: What were your plans going to be if you decided not to sign with the Yankees?

GK: I was going to go to UCLA. I was committed to UCLA baseball and that is where both of my parents went to school. Growing up, I never even dreamed of being a professional baseball player. That was just a far, far dream. To play college baseball was my secondary dream and UCLA was my dream school, so that is where I committed.

SG: This is your second year here in Charleston. What is it like to be back with the team again and see some familiar faces around in the locker room?

GK: Organization-wise, I would have obviously wanted to move up a level every year. But I'm really looking forward to playing in Charleston again. I really enjoyed the atmosphere last year. The fans are great. I went to a couple Minor League games on the West Coast and playing here is nothing like it. This is so much better for both the fans and the players, so I'm really looking forward to it. We have a really good group of guys, so we will be a good team.