BASEBALL/Yankees sign Taiwanese pitching prospect to US$1 million deal

Taipei, June 26 (CNA) The New York Yankees have signed 18-year-old Taiwanese pitching prospect Lai Chien-fan (賴謙凡) to a contract worth up to US$1 million.

According to people familiar with the deal, it includes a US$875,000 signing bonus, and scholarships bring its total value to US$1 million.

Speaking at a signing ceremony in Taipei, Yankees executives said the 1.78-meter, 80-kilogram right-hander who recently graduated from Taoyuan Municipal Daxi Senior High School has the talent and makeup to develop into a successful Major League Baseball pitcher.

Mario Garza, the Yankees' director of international scouting, said the Yankees have followed Lai for the past two years and were impressed not only by his performance 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, the scout said, reinforced the club's belief that he has what it takes to succeed in professional baseball.

According to Garza, Lai's fastball reaches 95-96 mph (153-154 kph) and is complemented by an outstanding curveball that Garza believed has the potential to become a plus pitch in the major leagues.

At the 2025 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, saying success at the highest level requires not only physical ability but also mental strength.

Slater called the signing 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 (王建民) in 2000 and Kuo Fu-lin (郭阜林) in 2009.

Wang signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in 2000 worth US$2.01 million, including education and travel allowances.

Wang went on to win 19 games in each of the 2006 and 2007 MLB seasons and was on track for another big season in 2008 before he injured his foot running the bases in a game in June. He missed the rest of the season and was never the same after that.

Kuo signed with the Yankees in 2009 and played in the club's minor league system from 2010 to 2013 before being released after the 2013 season.

Lai said Wang was his role model, while naming 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.