The Oakland A'S signed right-handed pitcher Zhong-Ao Zhuang-Chen out of Taiwan Sports University.
Oakland assistant general manager Dan Feinstein told the San Francisco Chronicle that the A's have followed Zhuang-Chen since his high school days and that the club is "excited to bring an arm like this into the system."
According to the A's scouting report, Zhuang-Chen has a "strong, sturdy starting pitcher's build with a fastball up to 95 mph, curveball and changeup and a smooth delivery with command of all three pitches."
The 21-year old established himself as the ace of the Taiwan Sports University pitching staff. He represented Chinese Taipei at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2021 in Sonora, Mexico.
Zhuang-Chen appeared in two games and earned one win. He pitched five shutout innings, striking out nine and allowing six hits against Germany on 23 September, recording the win. He then came back against Colombia on 29 September in the Super Round. He left with one out in the fifth, after allowing four earned runs on six hits.
World No. 3 Chinese Taipei finished sixth at the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup, with a 4-4 record.
