Che-Hsuan Lin

Che-Hsuan Lin (Chinese: 林哲瑄; pinyin: Lín Zhéxuān; born September 21, 1988) is a Taiwanese professional baseball outfielder for the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He played in Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox in 2012.

Che-Hsuan Lin
Lin with the Boston Red Sox in 2012
Fubon Guardians – No. 1
Outfielder
Born: (1988-09-21) September 21, 1988
Hualien County, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 14, 2012, for the Boston Red Sox
CPBL: August 14, 2015, for the EDA Rhinos
MLB statistics
(through 2012 season)
Batting average.250
Hits3
Runs1
CPBL statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.293
Home runs60
Runs batted in296
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

Lin was born in Hualien County, Taiwan. He helped his 12-and-under Bronco League team to the World Championship with a grand slam. He also has played with other Taiwan national teams, including the Junior World Championship squad in 2007.

Boston Red Sox

Lin was acquired by the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in June 2007.[1] He has put up solid numbers since joining the professional baseball ranks in the United States the same year, being rated as having the best outfield arm in the Boston minor league system, according to Baseball America. In 2010, Lin was selected as having the best strike-zone discipline, and the best defensive outfielder in Red Sox Top 10 Propspect Scouting Report . Basically a line-drive hitter, he makes good contact – quick, strong wrists – with average gap power, hitting well to all fields. Lin has also been recognized for his solid outfield skills, having good range, enough speed and a hard throwing arm.

Lin played for the GCL Red Sox, Lowell Spinners of the New York–Penn League, Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League, and Portland Sea Dogs in the Eastern League. He played for the Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox in the International League.

In 2008, Lin was selected for the annual All-Star Futures Game. Lin hit a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw that helped the World team beat the US Team, 3–0. He finished 2-for-2 and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.[2]

In 2008, Lin ranked eighth in the Boston Red Sox prospects list. He also was selected to play in the Olympics for the Chinese Taipei baseball team.[3] He was invited to spring training with the Boston Red Sox in 2010 and 2011.

In 2011, Lin was promoted to Triple-A and played with the Pawtucket Red Sox. To protect him from the Rule 5 draft, he was added to the 40-man roster on November 18, 2011 along with Drake Britton and Will Middlebrooks.

Lin during his tenure with the Boston Red Sox in 2012

On April 14, 2012, Lin was called up to replace the injured Jacoby Ellsbury.[4] His 9th-inning appearance as a defensive replacement on April 14 made him the eighth player from Taiwan to play in a Major League Baseball game. He was optioned back to Pawtucket after the game.[5] Lin rejoined the Red Sox on May 20 to provide depth in the outfield, with injuries to Cody Ross, Ryan Sweeney and five others on the disabled list. On May 21, Lin recorded his first major league hit off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Troy Patton.

On October 17, 2012, the Red Sox announced that Lin was designated for assignment to make room for right-handed pitcher Sandy Rosario on the Sox's 40-man roster.[6]

Houston Astros

On October 26, 2012, Lin was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[7] On December 19, 2012, Lin was designated for assignment by the Astros and on December 21 he was assigned outright to the Oklahoma City RedHawks. On November 4, 2013, he elected free agency.[8]

Texas Rangers
Lin with the Oklahoma City RedHawks in 2013

Lin signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers on December 15, 2013. The Rangers intended to use Lin as a pitcher.[9] The Rangers released him on December 23, 2014.[10]

After being released by the Rangers, Lin stated that he would no longer be playing baseball in North America.[11]

EDA Rhinos/Fubon Guardians

Lin joined the EDA Rhinos, later rebranded as the Fubon Guardians, joined the club after he was drafted by them at #1 overall in the 2015 CPBL Draft. In his first campaign with EDA, Lin slashed .244/.359/.372 in 20 games. In 2016, Lin slashed .345/.434/.570 for the Rhinos in 107 games.[12] Lin and the Rhinos won the Taiwan Series in 2016 and Lin was named the MVP of the series.[13] In 2017, the first season with the team as the Fubon Guardians, Lin hit .296/.374/.405 with 3 home runs, 43 RBI, and 9 stolen bases in 91 games. In 2018, Lin played in 106 games for Fubon, hitting .278/.342/.425 with 10 home runs, 59 RBI, and 18 stolen bases.

In 2019 for Fubon, Lin hit .314/.363/.469 with 9 home runs and 48 RBI in 112 games. In the delayed 2020 CPBL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lin hit .291/.392/.455 with 9 home runs and 32 RBI in 73 games for the Guardians.[14] Lin was in the Guardians' starting lineup for Opening Day in 2021. On the season, he posted a slash of .238/.334/.331 with 5 home runs, 23 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 84 total contests.

Lin made 38 appearances for Fubon in 2022, slashing .244/.321/.319 with one home run, 4 RBI, and 5 stolen bases. On July 26, 2022, Lin suffered a labral tear in his left shoulder while attempting a diving catch against the Wei Chuan Dragons. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the season.[15]

Awards
  • Boston Red Sox prospects players of the week (July 15–21, 2007)
  • Boston Red Sox minor leagues defensive player of the month (June 2008)
  • 2008 Futures Game World Team All Star
  • 2008 Futures Game World Team MVP

International career

He was selected Chinese Taipei national baseball team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, 2013 World Baseball Classic and 2017 World Baseball Classic.

On October 15, 2018, he selected 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series exhibition game against Japan,[16] but he canceled his participation for Chinese Taipei.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Red Sox sign top draft pick". ESPN. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  2. "Red Sox prospect Lin powers World team to Futures Game victory". ESPN. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  3. Shpigel, Ben; Curry, Jack (14 July 2008). "Prospects Are Mindful of Olympics' Approach". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  4. "Red Sox Transactions April 2012". Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  5. Abraham, Peter (14 April 2012). "One and Done for Che-Hsuan Lin". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  6. "Red Sox claim Rosario off waivers from Marlins". Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  7. "Astros claim Che-Hsuan Lin off waivers from Red Sox | astros.com: News". Archived from the original on 2012-11-01.
  8. "Che-Hsuan Lin Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com". MLB.com.
  9. "Rangers sign Armando Galarraga, Daniel Bard to Minor League deals | texasrangers.com: News". Archived from the original on 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  10. Eddy, Matt (January 11, 2015). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8". Baseball America.
  11. http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/
  12. "Guardians announce contract extension for Lin Yi-Chuan, Kao Kuo-Hui & Hu Chin-Lung". 20 March 2017.
  13. "Rhinos charge to Taiwan Series win – Taipei Times". 30 October 2016.
  14. "Che-Hsuan Lin Minor & CPBL Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com".
  15. @gocpbl (July 26, 2022). "Fubon Guardians 林哲瑄 (Lin Che-Hsuan) has been diagnosed with a labral tear in his left shoulder" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. "台日交流賽名單公布 中職好手征戰日本福岡". 中華職棒大聯盟全球資訊網 The Official Site of CPBL (in Chinese (Taiwan)). October 15, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  17. "「ENEOS侍ジャパンシリーズ2018」チャイニーズ・タイペイ代表選手 出場選手変更について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 2, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
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