《TAIPEI TIMES》 Yankees tout potential of Lai Chien-fan

Taiwanese pitching prospect Lai Chien-fan poses at a signing ceremony in Taipei yesterday after inking a contract with the New York Yankees. Photo: CNA

/ Staff writer, with CNA Taiwanese pitching prospect Lai Chien-fan has the temperament and talent to go a long way in baseball, a scout for the MLB’s New York Yankees said yesterday at a signing ceremony in Taipei for the 18-year-old.

Yankees executives said that the 1.78m, 80kg right-hander who recently graduated from Taoyuan Municipal Daxi Senior High School has the makeup to develop into a successful MLB pitcher after earlier this week inking a contract worth up to US$1 million, comprising an US$875,000 signing bonus and scholarships.

Mario Garza, the Yankees’ director of international scouting, said that the club has followed Lai for the past two years and is impressed not only by his performances on the field, but also by his character.

“The more I get to know Lai Chien-fan, the more I have confidence that he is going to be up for this challenge,” Garza said.

Meeting Lai’s family and support system reinforced the club’s belief that he has what it takes to succeed in professional baseball, Garza said.

The scout said that Lai’s fastball reaches 153 to 154kph and is complemented by an outstanding curveball that he believes has the potential to become a plus pitch in the major leagues.

At last year’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, Lai made three relief appearances for Taiwan, striking out 14 batters over seven innings while allowing just one earned run. He posted a 1.00 ERA and helped Taiwan win the bronze medal.

Matt Slater, the Yankees’ global player acquisition supervisor, described Lai as a dedicated young player with tremendous potential, while adding that success at the highest level requires not only physical ability, but also mental strength.

Slater called Lai’s signature significant for the Yankees, given that it was the club’s first signing in Taiwan in 16 years and its first in Asia in 12 years.

The Yankees announced Lai’s signing earlier this week, making him the third Taiwanese player to join the organization as an international free agent after Wang Chien-ming in 2000 and Kuo Fu-lin in 2009.

Lai said that Wang was his role model, and named Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton as players he hopes to one day face during live batting practice.

Asked about his mindset after signing with one of baseball’s most storied franchises, the Taitung County native said it was an honor rather than a source of pressure.

“My responsibility now is to keep working hard and reach the major leagues,” he said.

In the MLB on Thursday, the Yankees lost 6-3 against the Red Sox, with Boston’s Caleb Durbin hitting a two-run home run to help beat error-prone New York.

At Comerica Park, Detroit’s Lee Hou-yu of Taiwan had one hit in three at-bats as the Tigers lost 2-1 against the Houston Astros.

Tatsuya Imai threw six shutout innings to help Houston edge the hosts in the opener of their four-game series.

Additional reporting by Reuters Elsewhere on Thursday, it was:

‧ Blue Jays 5, Rangers 6 ‧ Mets 3, Cubs 4 （10i） ‧ Giants 6, Athletics 9

‧ Nationals 5, Phillies 10 ‧ Pirates 5, Mariners 1

‧ Rays 13, Royals 2 新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES

Detroit Tigers second-baseman Lee Hao-yu, left, of Taiwan throws after the force-out of Cam Smith of the Houston Astros during their MLB game at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Taiwanese pitching prospect Lai Chien-fan, sixth left, poses with family and friends at a signing ceremony in Taipei yesterday after inking a contract with the New York Yankees. Photo: CNA