BASEBALL/Giants sign 18-year-old Taiwanese pitcher in US$500,000 deal

Taipei, Jan. 22 (CNA) The San Francisco Giants signed 18-year-old Taiwanese pitcher Yang Nien-hsi (陽念希) to a contract on Wednesday worth a total of US$500,000 (NT$16.39 million).

At a press event in Taipei on Wednesday, the Giants' Pacific Rim Area scout Evan Hsueh (薛奕煌) presented Yang with a Giants jersey to celebrate the signing.

The deal consisted of a contract worth US$450,000 plus a US$50,000 scholarship bonus.

Yang, who stands at 188 centimeters tall and weighs 85 kilograms, is of Indigenous Amis descent.

With his fastest pitch clocking in at 150 kilometers per hour, Yang had been on Hsueh's radar since playing in the HuaNan Cup Junior Baseball Championship Games when he was in ninth grade.

Hsueh said the young athlete's imposing physique, coordination, and baseball prowess left a lasting impression, which was why Hsueh had always kept an eye out for Yang throughout the latter's high school and college baseball careers.

Specifically, Hsueh acknowledged Yang's performance at the 2022 U-18 Baseball World Cup as a key moment when the young Taiwanese athlete impressed the management of the Giants' organization.

He further credited Yang on his continued improvement as another reason why the San Francisco team decided to recruit the young Taiwanese.

While it wasn't announced to which of the Giants' minor league affiliates Yang will be assigned when he goes to the United States, Huseh said the team intends to get the Taiwanese athlete accustomed to the culture and rhythm of training in the U.S. and aims to nurture him into a starting pitcher.

On joining the Giants, Yang said he plans to progress through the minors and make it into the majors within five years.

He also said he was surprised to have been recruited as a pitcher since he had always thought that he performed better as a batter.

Yang also said since he hasn't given up on hitting, he might "swing for them to see" for a chance at the box.

The 18-year-old's signing came after two other young Taiwanese baseball stars who also competed in the 2023 U-18 World Cup.

In June last year, left-handed pitcher Lin Wei-en (林維恩) was signed by the Oakland Athletics for US$1.35 million while Taiwanese outfielder Ko Ching-hsien (柯敬賢) received a US$750,000 contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yang revealed at the presser that as a member of Taiwan's team at the 2023 U-18 World Cup, he had shared a room with Lin and Ko.

Yang said before his Giants' contract, Lin had encouraged him to join him at the A's.

Yang added that Lin also called to congratulate him after his recruitment by the Giants was confirmed.