TAICHUNG CITY, Taiwan -- Chien Yu, the MVP of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019, was selected yesterday in the first round (fourth overall) of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) Draft by the CTBC Brothers. He is pictured above with Brothers general manager Danny Liu.
Yu, who made it clear that playing overseas would be his first choice, decided to make himself available in this year’s draft right before the deadline.
“I still have the dream (to play overseas), but I will take one step at a time,” said Yu.
The outbreak of COVID-19 is believed to be the main reason for him having put his international career plans on hold.
All eight of the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019 alumni who made themselves available were drafted. Chinese Taipei infielder Tzu-Hao Lin became the top pick amongst them as he was selected second overall by the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions.
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Wei-Chung Wang (Milwaukee, Oakland & Pittsburgh) became the overall number one pick. He was selected by the expansion team Weichuan Dragons.
Wang will become the first player in CPBL history to have both Major League Baseball and Korea Baseball Organization (NC Dinos in 2018) experience before he throws his first pitch in CPBL.
Former Minor League Baseball (MiLB) catcher of the Pittsburgh Pirates Jin-De Jang, who represented Chinese Taipei at the WBSC Premier12 2019, was selected in the first round, third overall, by the Fubon Guardians after he signed a developmental contract with the club back in April, amid the uncertainty of playing abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) pitcher Chun-Lin Kuo (Seibu Lions) was selected by the Guardians in the second round (ninth overall). He is another Team Chinese Taipei alum, having competed in the 2014 WBSC U-21 Baseball World Cup and the 2015 WBSC Premier12.
A total of 123 players were registered for the draft and 48 of them were selected by the five CPBL clubs. A total of 23 high school graduates were selected, setting a CPBL record. Expansion team Weichuan Dragons were given one extra pick in each of the first two rounds.
The Dragons made the most picks (11 players), while the Lions selected 10, while the Guardians, the Brothers and Taiwan Series 2019 winners Monkeys all made nine picks each.
According to current CPBL regulations, clubs need to reach agreements with their selected players by Monday, 31 August. The club that fails to reach an agreement by the deadline will lose the right to negotiate and will not be allowed to select the same player in a future Draft, unless provided with written consent from the player.
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