Taichung, Taiwan

Had the pleasure of attending the 2007 International Asian Junior Championship held in Taichung, Taiwan over the weekend with a couple of scouts and writers. (Note to self: Taichung could be the most interesting city in Taiwan).

The tournament consisted of high school aged players from Japan, Chinese Taipei aka Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. In addition to having the best opening ceremonies of any baseball game I’ve seen, including multiple gong-beatings, dragon costumes, and ritual bowing, it served as a good illustration of the future of Asian baseball.

Japan trotted out a D-list of players, most of whom seem headed for the Japanese industrial leagues at best. Chinese Taipei brought a more talented roster of players, including RHPs Hsieh Jung-Hao, Yang Jui Hui, and Huang Chih-Lung, who combined on a no-hitter against the Japanese second or third-tier nationals. Hsieh, a big, stocky RHP flashed some promise, with above average control and a decent albeit unspectacular slider. Unfortunately, his FB tops off at about 89-90 MPH, and unless there’s some major developments he seems likely headed for the CPBL, Taiwan’s professional league.

Very few Taiwanese players seem headed for the big stage. Some Taiwanese position display occasional flashes of power, but lack the speed or defensive tools necessary to make them stand out against AA or AAA talent in the majors. Some are fairly quick but not lightning-quick enough or defensively strong enough to make it out of Taiwan.

Japan is clearly loaded with talent, but this time around they didn’t make the trip over. Hong Kong, Thailand, and Sri Lanka have a long way to go and have minimal prospects, although they seemed to be having the most fun of any of the players, likely due to the multiple Red Bulls being swilled by the Sri Lankan team prior to their game. Plus the Sri Lankan team had the honorable distinction of being the only team with collared uniforms, perhaps a nod to their cricketeer brethren.

But, as fellow reporter Aaron Shinsano pointed out, the most intriguing prospects in the tournament were clearly coming out of South Korea. LHP Jin Ya Gob, whom to the dismay of MLB scouts in attendance, signed a deal with a Korean squad, shined in the tournament, rocking a 93-94 MPH that he located low in the zone for strikes, and a 74 MPH slider. At high school age, he already seems poised enough to dominate on a professional level. He was rumored to have a decent enough change up, and his delivery was spot on. Several other Korean pitchers touched the low 90’s on the gun, and their lineup featured several very tall and strong hitters dwarfed the players on the tournament’s other teams.