“Players who met for the first time on a plane are unbeaten in 11 games!” The remarkable turnaround of a U.S. independent league alliance team, and the behind-the-scenes story revealed by its MLB veteran manager

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Until boarding the flight to Korea, they had not even had time to train together. Players gathered from various U.S. independent league teams essentially formed a team for the first time, yet they did not lose a single game in Korea. This is the story of the Long Beach Cost, led by Don Wakamatsu (63), the first Asian American manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) history.

On the 30th, at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium, the Long Beach Cost defeated the LG Twins Futures team 4-2 in the semifinals of the 2026 Ulsan-KBO Fall League. With the score tied 2-2 and two outs and a runner on first base in the bottom of the ninth inning, Benjamin Rosengard (27) hit a walk-off two-run home run. Following an 8-win, 2-draw record in the preliminary round, they advanced to the finals with an unbeaten streak of 11 games (9 wins, 2 draws).

The Long Beach Cost, which played its inaugural season in the United States, finished second among all 12 teams in the independent Pioneer League this year with a record of 67 wins and 29 losses. They advanced to the championship series but settled for the runner-up spot. However, the Long Beach Cost team in Korea is different from their U.S. regular season roster. It is an alliance team composed of players from multiple U.S. independent league teams, including the Long Beach Cost, Oakland Boulders, Yuba-Sutter Freezers, and Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The manager who led the alliance team to Korea is Wakamatsu, a former MLB figure. A fourth-generation Japanese American, he managed the Seattle Mariners from 2009 to 2010, leaving his name in history as the first Asian American manager in MLB. He subsequently served as a coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers.

Manager Wakamatsu, met before the game, revealed, “An opportunity arose because the Mexican team originally scheduled to participate dropped out. We were players from different teams, and we came together for the first time when boarding the flight to Korea. We didn’t even have the chance to train together.”

Despite being a hastily assembled team, their performance was dominant. The Long Beach Cost recorded a team ERA of 1.50 in 10 preliminary round games. They demonstrated competitiveness against domestic teams, defeating the KIA Tigers 5-0, the Samsung Lions 10-1, and LG 7-1.

Looking only at their U.S. regular season records, this is somewhat surprising. The Long Beach Cost’s team ERA in the Pioneer League was 5.31. However, this figure actually ranked first in the entire league. Manager Wakamatsu explained, “The ERA in the Pioneer League is very high. Because many games are played in high-altitude areas like Montana and Idaho, batted balls travel far. The league ERA reaches nearly 7 (actually 8.44).”

So, what is the level of Korean prospects that Manager Wakamatsu, an MLB manager, has faced directly? Manager Wakamatsu stated, “I think there are many Korean players who can compete sufficiently in the U.S. (independent leagues) as well,” adding, “The style of baseball is a bit different. Overall, there weren’t as many pitchers throwing balls as fast as the American players we faced, but there were also players who threw very fast pitches.”

He further emphasized the difference in age and experience among the players. He noted, “Most of our players have completed their senior year of college or have several years of experience in the independent leagues. In contrast, the players we met at this tournament are quite young. When playing against the Chinese team, we even faced a 16-year-old player,” adding, “I believe this age gap affects performance.”

In this context, what Manager Wakamatsu particularly noted was fundamentals. Comparing his visit to Japan last year with this Korean tournament, he discovered commonalities. Manager Wakamatsu said, “When I visited Japan with the national team last year, the most impressive thing was also the fundamentals. The fundamentals of the teams we met at this tournament are truly excellent,” continuing, “From throwing and catching the ball to defense, they are solid, and the players follow discipline well. I believe such fundamentals translate into competitiveness.”

Since players who grew up in different environments came together, their ways of learning baseball were also diverse. For Manager Wakamatsu, the value of this tournament was not simply about wins and losses.

He stated, “Every time we played or watched games against teams from China, Japan, or Korea, I told our players to closely observe the opposing player at their position,” emphasizing, “The way baseball is played differs slightly from country to country and team to team. If you discover a good skill in an opponent and make it your own, you can become a better player.”

It was also a meaningful experience for the players. Long Beach Cost center fielder Cuba Beth (29) stated, “It was really great to face talented players from various countries, including KBO Futures League players, as well as Australia and Japan. Competing with other players away from the U.S. became a good test for us.”

Ren Abe-Arias (24), who moved from Japan to the U.S. independent leagues, also explained, “I am from Japan, but I have my own style rather than Japanese-style pitching. There is still much room for improvement, which means there is that much more potential for growth. I try to focus on one pitch at a time in every game.”

Manager Wakamatsu expected that the overall level of the educational league would rise as competitors became stronger. He stated, “Last year, the Australian team achieved a good record of 9 wins and 2 losses, but a Korean team won the championship. If strong teams continue to participate, other teams will strive to achieve better results,” adding, “Competing to become stronger is positive for everyone. This competition raises the level of the entire tournament.”

The Long Beach Cost will play their final game of this tournament in the finals at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium at 2 p.m. on the 31st.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original