MMO Exclusive: Former Mets’ Farmhand, LHP Kyle Regnault

For southpaw Kyle Regnault, his baseball career has taken him from independent ball in Canada, all the way to Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.

After playing baseball as well as wrestling growing up, Regnault was offered a full ride to Chipola Junior College to play the former. When his college career ended, he was not drafted by an MLB team and embarked on a journey to play in the Can-Am league.

The Rhode Island native spent three years in the Can-Am league, which included one of his teams folding and landing in Quebec after a dispersal draft.

In the 2013 offseason, Regnault met now-Mets’ pitching coach Phil Regan in serendipitous fashion, who helped get his pro career in the states started.

After pitching in the Mets’ system from 2015-18 where he topped out at Triple-A, Regnault received an offer to play in Japan for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. After some consideration, him and his wife decided to do it, and haven’t looked back.

So far for the Toyo Carp in 2019, Regnault has registered a 0.44 ERA in 37 games.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Regnault this past week, where we spoke about his career, his time so far in Japan, and what is next.

Piersall: This season for Hiroshima, you have pitched to a 0.44 ERA in 37 games. Are you throwing any new pitches or have you changed anything in your mechanics since being overseas that has led to such dominance?

Regnault:  I’m not throwing any new pitches in games here, but, I’ve been working on a shuuto (a tailing fastball type pitch). I’ve been searching for a two-seam for years, and I finally have one in the works. But so far this season, I’ve been having a lot of success trusting my fastball and curveball. It’s something I figured out half way through the season last year at (Triple-A) Las Vegas, and have carried it over to this season. I have also got a lot better at holding runners, which I believe has contributed to the success so far.

Piersall: Can you tell me what it was like going from playing professionally in America to deciding to play in Japan, and how did playing in Japan come to be?

Regnault: It’s been a long road for me so far, coming from Indy ball and working up to Triple-A. It’s a grind in the states for sure, there is a lot of talent in every organization making it tough to make that jump to the big leagues. Being a 29-year-old free agent signing, timing is everything. You have to be performing well at the right time, and maybe even multiple times before you get a shot. Unfortunately, I never got that shot with the Mets.

After the season last year, I got a call from my agent saying a team from Japan had called, and he was feeling out my interest in playing overseas. A few years ago, it would’ve been a much tougher decision for me, but looking at my current situation, it was definitely a great option to explore.

Signing a first-year player contract at 26, it’s tough to have any leverage, especially being under contract for seven years. At 29, having three years until I become a free agent, there isn’t much money being made either. Most players my age are on their first, second, third free agent contract. So, as talks become more serious, I made the decision that it was time to go.

After living the process, it turns out I was very lucky, because it’s tough to make the jump overseas. A lot of things have to fall in place (MLB organization plans, overseas interest, contract language, etc.) I heard a lot of great things about baseball in Japan, and I’ll tell you now that they are all true. It’s baseball stripped down to the core, get on base, bunt them over, base hit scores a run. Doesn’t matter if it’s the pitcher or cleanup hitter.

The stadiums are electric, 40,000-50,000 people and every seat in the stadium will be filled. Tuesday day game, or Friday night, you can count on a packed house. Chants, horns and drums beating non-stop from the first inning until the last. (Even during the pitch).

It’s been a great experience so far! You can’t ask for a better atmosphere to play in, so to go from AAA to that has been pretty amazing. And the pay is pretty good too.

Piersall: When you were in college and you went undrafted, you decided to play in Canada. Did you always have faith that you would be able to one day play pro ball in the states?

Regnault: After college, I actually signed with the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am league. The team folded mid-season, sending players into a dispersal draft, and luckily I ended up in Quebec. I always felt I was good enough, I just never had gotten my break yet. You have to believe, especially when you’re playing indy ball, that’s all you’ve got. A lot of great players there, just waiting for their opportunity.

Piersall: I read that in 2013, you met current Mets pitching coach Phil Regan. Did he say anything of importance to you/was he a catalyst in getting you into the Mets organization?

Regnault: During the offseason I worked at a golf course in Palm City, Florida, where I met Phil Regan while he was golfing. I was a bag boy cleaning clubs and my co-worker told me a Mets pitching coach was golfing, so I drove out to the ninth hole and introduced myself.

He was golfing with Randy Niemann when I interrupted their round, I said, “hey Phil, sorry to bother you, but I want to introduce myself. My name is Kyle Regnault and I’m a left handed pitcher currently playing indy ball in Canada.”

At the time, a 25-year-old, undrafted pitcher playing indy ball doesn’t sound very intriguing, but Phil gave me that shot I had been waiting for. He invited me up to the complex in St. Lucie where I worked with him, and the following year, I ended up signing my first professional contract with the Mets.

He has everything to do with where I am today, not only did he stick his neck out for me, to give me a great opportunity, but along the way he has transformed me into a different pitcher mentally and physically, I am forever grateful. He is truly one of baseballs bests. A breath of fresh air, when he talks you listen, a player advocate and a brilliant teacher.

Piersall: Can you tell me where your nickname of “Leaf” originates from?

Regnault: Leaf actually came about during a press conference the first day I arrived in Japan. RHP Casey Lawrence was nicknamed “Twig,” and I had a press conference where we were asked about nicknames. His was Twig, and mine was, well…Leaf. Essentially it was a joke that stuck, you had to be there. Haha.

Piersall: Many players have gone overseas to play in Japan and have been able to come back to the states better than ever before. Is it a goal of yours to come back to the states and try and make it to the majors?

Regnault: It’s always been a dream of mine to pitch in the big leagues. I know I can pitch there, I just never got that opportunity for one reason or another.

In theory, it would have to be the right situation. I don’t think I would go there just to say I pitched in the big leagues. This game has taken me many places so far and I’m thankful for that. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s you never know what the future holds.

But, right now, all my focus is on going out there for the Carp and doing my part to help them win. The passion and support I have received from the fans in Hiroshima so far have been overwhelming. They are die hard fans who come together night in and night out to support you. When you succeed, they are there cheering with you, when you fail, they are there picking you up and encouraging you to get them next time, it’s amazing, I’ve never seen anything like it.

Piersall: on Twitter, you have embraced being a member of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and it’s fans. What is the difference, if any, in games or atmosphere in Japan as opposed to in the states?

Regnault: I don’t think a better playing atmosphere exists. I wish that baseball fans from the States could watch a game at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima, or anywhere in the NPB. It’s an unforgettable experience, and as a player an unforgettable feeling.

Piersall: You and all of your brothers have wrestled during your life. How did you decide on baseball as opposed to wrestling?

Regnault: Growing up with three brothers, it was always wrestling in the winter, baseball in the summer. I loved both sports, but I was probably a little better at wrestling than baseball. Baseball after high school is a tough gig. Tough to get scholarships, and a very limited future. I always new baseball was going to be my future. During the fall of my senior year, I got offered a full scholarship to play baseball for Chipola Junior college, an unbelievable opportunity that forced wrestling to take a backseat.

Piersall: Having played in the Mets minors last year, do you believe Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil are the real deal? Who else should fans keep an eye on that you played alongside going forward?

Regnault: Jeff and Pete are the real deal. “Real Deal McNeil!”

Piersall: Thanks for all your time, man!

Regnault: Thanks man!

To keep up with Kyle and his journey playing overseas, he can be found on Twitter: @KyleRegnault and Instagram: @Kyle_Regnault.