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Former Rakuten Eagle Casey McGehee was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year by Sporting News Baseball. From MLB.com's Adam McCalvy:

... McGehee's comeback was more literal than most, as he played in Japan in 2013 before returning to Major League Baseball on a one-year deal with the Marlins, for whom he proved a capable run-producer and lineup-stabilizer. Making the most of a career-high 160 games played, McGehee batted .287 with four home runs, 76 RBIs, 29 doubles and 177 hits -- the National League's fourth-highest hit total.

... "When I went over [to Japan] I wasn't necessarily thinking about coming back," he said in September. "I had it in my mind that this is where it was going to be. I had to come to terms with that. When I found out I had a chance to come back, it meant a lot to me. There have been a lot of guys that have went over there and had success that haven't been able to come back, for whatever reason. I knew the chances of that happening weren't very good to begin with. I guess I'm proud of being able to say I went there and was able to come back."

Source: MLB.com 10/21/2014

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General

• Hideki Matsui held a baseball clinic for about thirty Japanese youth baseball players in New York on Saturday. Source: Sponichi 10/12/2014

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Toronto Blue Jays

The latest on Munenori Kawasaki, from MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm:

... The decision to outright Kawasaki off the 40-man roster was a mere formality because of a clause in his contract that allowed him to become a free agent at the end of the season.

... "He's eligible for free agency, it's just a clause in his contract," Anthopoulos said. "Just about every Japanese player that comes over now, they're not part of the reserve. You don't get them for six or seven years and go through arbitration unless they're an amateur and so on.

"I think we'll look to bring him back. I think that goes without saying. I haven't talked to him. I don't know what his desires are. I don't think the finances have ever been an issue for him. My understanding is he can make more money in Japan, but he's wanted to play here. We'll see. I don't know what his goals are for the offseason, but at some point we'll sit down with him."

Source: MLB.com 10/4/2014

Lancaster Barnstormers

Shunsuke Watanabe and Yusuke Kajimoto helped the Barnstormers win the Atlantic League Championship.

Kajimoto
Playoffs: 7 G, 8-for-23, 5 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 5 SO, .348/.400/.565
Season: 96 G, 105-for 371, 66 R, 16 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 48 BB, 65 SO, .283/.369/.364

Watanabe
Playoffs: 2 G, 2 GS, 1-1, 14.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 13 SO, 1.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
Season: 36 G, 16 GS, 8-2, 120.1 IP, 97 H, 49 R 45 ER, 33 BB, 91 SO, 3.36 ERA, 1.08 WHIP

Division Series - Game 1: Gailen, Schwinden Lead 'stormers To Win | Game 2: Somerset Centers On Game Two Win | Game 3: Barnstormers Lose Game 3 | Game 4: Kajimoto Sends Series To Game Five | Game 5: Barnstormers Head To Texas For Finals
Championship Series - Game 1: Barnstormers Grab Opener | Game 2: Watanabe Pitches Barnstormers To Edge Of Title Game 3: The Barnstormers Are Champions!

Watanabe (38) plans to attend the winter league in Venezuela. He will also try to get an invite to spring training next year. Source: Sponichi 10/5/2014

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The MLB announced three more players for the roster that will be participating in 2014 Suzuki Japan All-Star Series: Jose Altuve, Justin Morneau, and Bryce Harper.

Source: MLB.com 9/30/2014