Lyle Lin withdraws from WBC qualifiers

Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) Catcher Lyle Lin (林家正) on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from Taiwan's World Baseball Classic (WBC) qualifiers roster after signing a minor league deal with Major League Baseball's (MLB) Oakland Athletics (A's) and receiving an invitation to spring training.

Lin said on Facebook that the contract, which includes his first invite to major league spring training since being drafted in 2019, requires him to fully attend the A’s preseason schedule in Phoenix, Arizona.

He apologized for any inconvenience caused to the national team and expressed gratitude to manager Tseng Hao-jiu (曾豪駒) for giving him another opportunity to join the national team after he participated in the squad that won the World Baseball Softball Confederation's (WBSC) Premier12 championship in November 2024.

Lin also thanked Taiwanese baseball fans for their support, which he said had helped the team secure the Premier12 championship despite being the underdogs.

He urged fans to continue supporting him just as they cheer for the national team, pledging to live up to their expectations and never give up.

"I am proud to be a part of Team Taiwan. We are Team Taiwan," he wrote.

In response, Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), president of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), expressed his full support for Lin's decision.

In addition to Lin, infielder Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) has also withdrawn from the initial 36-player training roster, Tsai said.

The WBC qualifiers will begin in Taipei on Feb. 21, with Taiwan facing Spain at 7 p.m., South Africa on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., and Nicaragua on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.