Two-way player Itsuki Takemoto could be the next big star from Japan

TOKYO — Have you ever heard of the Cape Cod League? Many in Japan have not but it is a quite popular collegiate summer league in the United States for NCAA baseball players after the regular college season ends. It is located on Cape Cod in the state of Massachusetts, is one of the nation’s premier summer baseball leagues, and dates back to 1923. There are 10 teams divided into two divisions. Each team plays 44 games, followed by three rounds of playoffs to determine the championship.

The caliber of play is quite high. It has been called the most competitive league in all of college sports. Numerous players from the Cape Cod League have gone on to play in the major leagues, including big names like Mo Vaughn, Jeff Reardon, Kolten Wong, Corey Snyder, Todd Helton, Carlton Fisk, Thurman Munson, Lance Berkman, Justin Smoak, Kyle Schwarber, Marcus Stroman, Ian Happ, Aaron Judge, Peter Alonso and 2024 breakout rookie pitcher for Pittsburgh Paul Skenes.