The Houston Astros signed right-handed Taiwanese pitcher Lo Chia-jen to a minor league contract on Friday.
The 22-year-old Lo became the first Taiwanese player to join the Astros organization. Pingtung-born Lo inked a contract worth US$250,000.
A member of Taiwan’s Olympic team, he yielded one run in two innings during the Beijing Games in August.
PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
IMPRESSED
Astros general manager Ed Wade said the team’s top Pacific Rim talent scout, Glen Barker, had seen Lo play in Taiwan and in Beijing and had been impressed.
“We are extremely excited to add another quality arm to our development mix and to be on the board as a team that’s serious about its Pacific Rim presence,” Wade said.
Lo is expected to join the Astros for major league spring training next year, but he is expected to begin the season at Class A.
“I’m really excited and happy to be here to join the Astros team,” Lo said through an interpreter at Minute Maid Park on Friday.
‘THAT LOOK’
“He really likes the closer role,” Barker told the Houston Chronicle. “He has that look in his eye when he gets out on the mound.”
He’s ready to go. That’s what he likes to do. He has four pitches, so that possibility is there. He has a real overpowering fastball, really a good split, a good curve and a slider. He has a potential to be a starter,” he said.
Taiwan suffered its first defeat of the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12, losing to defending champion Japan 3-1 at the Taipei Dome last night. Japan’s victory put Taiwan’s score at two wins and one loss in WBSC Premier12 championship Group B play. In the top of the first inning, a sacrifice fly from Japanese batter Shota Morishita allowed Masayuki Kuwahara to score a run on Taiwan’s starter Chen Po-ching (陳柏清). Taiwan’s attempt to catch up in the bottom of the first ended to no avail and an uneventful second inning saw the score
Taiwan last night defeated Cuba 2-0 in their World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 Group B game at the Taipei Dome and finished the group second. At the Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium, South Korea yesterday defeated Australia 5-2, while Japan last night won 11-3 against the Dominican Republic. On Sunday, Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome to advance to the Super Round. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champions and Group B winners Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the
Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome last night to advance to the Super Round of the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champion and Group B winner Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the off. After taking a walk to first base, Taiwan’s Chen Chieh- hsien (陳傑憲) then stole second before Tseng Song-en (曾頌恩) drew a walk to first in the top of the first inning. Chen then
TWO-NIL LOSS: Taiwan’s best chance to score came at the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, but Venezuela’s Liarvis Breto got out of the jam Taiwan yesterday suffered a shutout 2-0 loss to Venezuela in the opening game of the WBSC Premier12 Super Round at the Tokyo Dome. Taiwan had seven hits, one more than Venezuela’s six, but catcher Carlos Perez’s two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning delivered the only runs scored by both teams and secured victory for Venezuela. Taiwan’s best chance came at the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded and only one out. However, Venezuela reliever Liarvis Breto struck out Chen Chen-wei before reliever Pedro Garcia finished the inning by allowing an infield flyball by Lin
RSS