Last week, the Uni-Lions have announced the signing of RHP Terance Marin, who will be the latest addition to Lions’ starting rotation. The 28-year-old Marin spent 7-season within the Chicago White Sox system and reached AAA in 2015. Marin then spent the next 2-season in the Triple-A with the combined record of 3.95 ERA, 1.29 WHIP over 186.2 innings.
The team at CPBL STATS was fortunate enough to have a chance to chat with Marin from his busy schedule.
Hi Terance, firstly I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us. I’ve prepared a few questions from the team at CPBL STATS and also a from Uni-Lions fans.
Q1: Can you talk a little bit about your pitching repertoire? What do you consider to be your best pitch? That cutter of yours you developed back in your earlier career can you elaborate on that? How did you end up learning that pitch? Is it from the pitching coach or it is something that you always you want developed more so it can be added to your pitching arsenal.
A1: Haha, I don’t want to give my secrets away, but I throw a fastball, sinker, cutter, curve, change up, slider, curve and sometimes a split. For the past 2-3 years my cutter has to be my best pitch. Learned it from my High A ball couch J.R. Perdew and I used to be a reliever but as I began to start he thought it would help me out a bit and it sure has.
Q2: When did the Uni-Lions approached you? And how did this signing came about? I’m assuming this is your first trip to Taiwan? Did you ever imagine you’ll end playing professional baseball in Asia?
A2: It was actually my agent that brought the idea up to me, I was playing in Mexico and some things just didn’t work out down there, so on my way home he had given me a call about this opportunity and it just went on from there and now I’m here. And honestly, I have talked about it before, more about Japan or Korea because I had never heard about this league before until it was brought up to me but I’m happy to be here!
Q3: You were on the same team with Chinatrust Brothers’ Bruce Kern during your time in the 2016 Mexican Winter League. Do you have any idea on what to expect playing professional baseball in Taiwan? Did anyone gave you any advice or tips before coming to Taiwan?
A3: Yeah I talked to him (Kern) when I got here and he kind of gave me the heads up on how it is over here and what to expect. Helps out a lot when you have a friend that’s in the same position you are.
Q4: Prior your signing with the Uni-Lions, during that 2-3 months gap period in 2017, have you been pitching or training elsewhere? Or did you use that time to recoup and rest your arm since you pitched your career-high in innings back in 2016 with Charlotte Knights.
A4: I was still playing, was in spring training with the White Sox until the last day when they decided to release me again, then I went in Mexico and some things just didn’t work out in my favor but now I’m here in Taiwan and ready to enjoy it!
Q5: What’s your idea of CPBL? From your understanding what’s the level of CPBL?
A5: Honestly I have no idea, I don’t think I will truly understand it until I get out there and pitch to experience it myself first hand
Q6: Do you have a favorite sports team when you were growing up?
A6: Growing up I love basketball and the Chicago Bulls (Michael Jordan). And now it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers (LeBron James). As for baseball, was the Boston Red Sox.
Q7: The last few seasons, CPBL has been a hitter’s league and several umpires are known for their small and inconsistent strikezone. As a pitcher with great control (Career BB9 of 2.1), have you been talking with the Lions management team about this? Or do you have any personal pitching philosophy from your previous experiences to tackle the potential strikezone issue?
A7: For me, I like to attack. I just throw it down the middle and let them swing, I need to have the trust in myself that I prepared myself enough that my stuff will get not only these batters but any kind of batters in any league. But again, I won’t find out until I’m out there on the mound.
3 different reactions from 3 players on the umpire's crappy strikezone. I like the last one. #CPBL #MandarinLesson pic.twitter.com/8bPJozbs0A
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) June 11, 2017
Q8: With Lions recently send Bruce Billings down to the farm team, which mean it is very likely you will be call up to the top team soon. Is there a timeline on when the organisation is expecting you to make the CPBL debut?
A8: I have no idea at this point, I’m still trying to get used to the time difference from back home and jet lag. But whenever that time is, I hope to be ready to help this team win.
Q9: Lastly, anything you would like to say to the Uni-Lions fans in Taiwan?
A9: I’d like to say hello and I am very honored and privileged to be here and I hope that I can give them something to cheer about. Thank you!
The decision on who will get cut from the team
On the 10th June, Marin has threw a 30-pitch bullpen session in front of the management team. The skipper Huang told the media that they’ll make the decision next week whether Uni-Lions will have 2 or 3 starters on the rotation moving forward. As for Marin? “Saw quite a lot of breaking pitches today, not bad! However, would like to see how Marin goes in game mode. We expect to have him to start in the farm team first” Said the Lions skipper.
