Taiwanese baseball player Liu Chih-jung has signed a US$750,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox. Liu will become the second Taiwanese player on the team after infielder Lin Tzu-wei. Liu will be signed on as a pitcher.
Liu earned the nickname “Taiwanese fireball” for throwing 158 km/h fast ball during a university tournament in September. Next month, he will be representing Taiwan in a tournament that will determine whether Taiwan will be able to take part in the baseball event at the 2020 Olympics.
Liu is now 20, and has represented Taiwan at international competitions including the recent Asian Baseball Championship, in which he was named MVP.
Liu says his current focus is on the upcoming tournament, but that he is excited to play baseball abroad. He says the transition shouldn’t be difficult for him because future teammate Lin Tzu-wei can look out for him.