Lai Chien-fan Joins New York Yankees; Wang Chien-ming Offers Encouragement

Taipei, June 26 (CNA) — 18-year-old right-handed pitcher Lai Chien-fan has signed with the MLB's New York Yankees. Lai stated that the iconic pinstripe uniform was a motivating factor in his decision. When asked about his impressions of the Yankees, he immediately cited the legendary Taiwanese pitcher Wang Chien-ming. Wang, attending the press conference, joked, "Even if he stayed in Taiwan, my team wouldn't have had the chance to draft him," while offering his support for Lai's professional journey in the United States.

Lai caught the attention of the Yankees following his standout performance at the U18 Baseball World Cup. He becomes the third Taiwanese player signed by the Yankees, following Wang Chien-ming and Kuo Fu-lin. The deal includes a signing bonus of $875,000, with total compensation reaching up to $1 million including academic scholarships.

Multiple MLB and NPB teams expressed interest in signing Lai. He noted that the Yankees' specific development plan best aligned with his requirements. Regarding the Yankees' legacy, Lai acknowledged that Wang Chien-ming's historic 19-win seasons were a significant inspiration, and he expressed a desire to challenge such records in the future.

Wang Chien-ming noted that he first observed Lai's potential at a Nike training camp. While Wang had hoped top young talent would stay in Taiwan, he acknowledged the reality of the draft landscape and ultimately encouraged Lai to pursue the challenge of Major League Baseball.