CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #266
Dragons Re-Sign Woodall, Brigham, Gagnon
On January 29, the Wei Chuan Dragons announced the re-signing of Jake Brigham, Bryan Woodall and Drew Gagnon for the 2023 CPBL season.
According to the team, both Bryan Woodall and Jake Brigham are on a full-season deal. However, Drew Gagnon’s contract has an escape clause, which allows him to sign with another overseas team should the opportunity arises.
Last year, KBO teams were reportedly interested in signing Drew Gagnon, but Gagnon decided to stay in the CPBL. In 2021, there were rumours that NPB teams were eyeing the 32-year-old American right-hander.
#KBO has tendered a status check on Wei Chuan Dragons' foreign pitcher Drew Gagnon in the #CPBL.
The Dragons' GM told Liberty Sports that on June 13, a KBO team contacted them and asked about the buyout fee for Drew Gagnon. 👀 pic.twitter.com/1ElslpeoGS
— CPBL STATS – ♥️ #95, Mina (@GOCPBL) June 15, 2022
Wei Chuan Dragons News: Bryan Woodall
36-year-old veteran right-hander Byran Woodall is about to enter his ninth season in the CPBL. In over 933 innings, he compiled a solid career ERA of 3.81 and 1.31 WHIP.
Last year, Bryan Woodall began the season as the Dragons’ closer and recorded 22 saves over 41 relief appearances. In mid-September, the Dragons transitioned him into the starter role, where he started six games for the team. Woodall finished the 2022 season with a 2.28 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 83 innings.
It is worth noting that Bryan Woodall is actually more effective as a starting pitcher. In over six starts, he posted an outstanding 1.59 ERA over 34 innings.
Wei Chuan Dragons Bryan Woodall fires 6.1 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts against the Monkeys. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/pk5G0sk69G
— CPBL STATS – ♥️ #95, Mina (@GOCPBL) November 1, 2021
Wei Chuan Dragons News: Jake Brigham, Drew Gagnon
Both Jake Brigham and Drew Gagnon are returning to Taiwan for their third season in the CPBL. Last year, both pitchers pretty much carried the team by being the foundations of the Dragons’ pitching staff and were considered to be the top five pitchers in the league.
Jake Brigham, the 34-year-old right-hander, logged 182.1 innings across 29 games with a 2.71 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. While Drew Gagnon, who is 32, pitched 174.1 innings over 28 games and finished the season with a 2.68 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.
At the end of the season, Drew Gagnon compiled a 3.76 WAR, while Jake Brigham had a 2.39 WAR, which placed the duo in second and fourth place among all the pitchers in the 2022 season in WAR rankings.
Wei Chuan Dragons Jake Brigham struck out 8 and gave up 1 run over 6 innings. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/rT0QByq2ZS
— CPBL STATS – ♥️ #95, Mina (@GOCPBL) April 10, 2022
Further Readings
Foreign players comes and goes, therefore we compiled a foreign players tracker to keep track of all the foreign players signing for the 2023 CPBL season.
Gagnon is certainly the most likely of the three to have a big year in 2023. NPB might be a better option for Gagnon than the KBO at this point in Gagnon’s career. KBO teams get rid of foreign players awfully fast.
There seems to be some sort of “under the table understanding” between the CPBL and NPB, because NPB hardly ever sign CPBL player foreign players while in midseason. I think the Orix Buffaloes was eyeing Drew Gagnon two years ago and even sent scouts to Taiwan to watch him in action.