CTBC Brothers renew shortstop Chiang Kun-yu's contract in record deal

Taipei, Jan. 24 (CNA) The CTBC Brothers from Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) on Friday announced they reached an agreement with the team's shortstop Chiang Kun-yu (江坤宇) to extend his contract by 10 years in a deal that could worth up to NT$147.88 million (US$4.5 million).

Including a NT$10 million incentive bonus, the 24-year-old's new contract stipulates that his monthly salary will be NT$660,000 starting this year, increasing to NT$1.2 million from the fifth year of the deal.

Chiang's new agreement also comes with a caveat in the form of a "player option" where he would have the choice to become a free agent in the seventh year if the CTBC Brothers fail to pay him at least NT$1.5 million per month for the rest of his contract.

If the Brothers live up to the deal after seven years, Chiang's 10-year contract would be the most lucrative for a player in the history of Taiwan baseball.

Not only is Chiang the first player ever to receive a 10-year deal from the Brothers, he will be the youngest player in the league with an average monthly salary over NT$1 million, surpassing that of six-time All-Star outfielder Chen Tzu-hao (陳子豪) who also signed a 10-year deal in December last year with the Wei Chuan Dragons worth around NT$130 million.

While professional baseball teams traditionally offer lucrative deals to pitchers and hitters, the Brothers' General Manager Liu Chih-wei (劉志威) said Chiang was offered the record contract as his skillset is inline with the club's focus.

Liu said a strong infield performance is the central focus of the team, making Chiang's shortstop prowess indispensable for the team's overall strategy.

He said that Chiang's steady appearances with the club since 2020 had also shown that he has consistently performed very well both as a shortstop and a hitter.

Liu went on to say that although Chiang may not be a gifted prodigy, his ability to read the game and perform at a high level during matches is uncommon for someone of his age. He expressed hope that Chiang would set an example for other young players at the club

The CTBC Brothers are the only team Chiang has played for in his professional career.

Chiang joined the club in 2018 as a draft pick and began excelling in 2020, which ultimately earned him a spot on Team Taiwan's championship-winning roster at the 2024 WBSC Premier12, preceding his lucrative 10-year deal