Taiwanese Pitcher Lai Chien-fan Signs with New York Yankees, Reflects on Growth After U18 Experience

Taipei, June 26 (CNA) — 18-year-old right-handed pitcher Lai Chien-fan has fulfilled his aspiration of playing internationally by signing with the New York Yankees. Reflecting on his journey, Lai noted that his performance during last year's U18 Baseball World Cup served as a turning point, prompting him to dedicate himself to becoming a more competitive player.

During the U18 World Cup, Lai pitched 7 innings in relief, recording 14 strikeouts and maintaining a 1.00 ERA. Despite these statistics, Lai admitted feeling discouraged when facing elite international competition, which led him to question his potential to play abroad. Upon returning to Taiwan, he intensified his training, focusing on physical development and refining his breaking balls, which resulted in his fastball velocity increasing to 154 km/h.

With his move to the Yankees organization, Lai acknowledges the challenges ahead, including language barriers, cultural adjustment, and the rigors of living alone. He emphasized that maintaining physical health will be his primary objective, stating that he will exert his maximum effort to progress through the ranks while embracing the public expectations as motivation.