CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #254
Fubon Guardians News: Enderson Franco
On December 22, Z-Axis Sports Agency announced that the Fubon Guardians have re-signed Enderson Franco for the 2023 CPBL season. The 29-year-old Venezuelan right-hander will return to Taiwan for his second season in the CPBL.
In 2022, Enderson Franco joined the Fubon Guardians as a mid-season signing to replace Xavier Batista. After a few weeks in the farm league, Franco made his first team debut in July and quickly became one of the foundations of the Guardians bullpen.
In 39 relief appearances, Enderson Franco posted a 2.45 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 51.1 innings. He also set the new CPBL record for the fastest pitch at 161 kph on October 22.
Fubon Guardians' Enderson Franco was clocked throwing 161 kph (100 mph) on the TV gun. The league registered that pitch at 160 kph (99.5 mph). ? #CPBL pic.twitter.com/rTYs9Y8TZa
— CPBL STATS – ♥️ #95, Mina (@GOCPBL) October 16, 2022
Fubon Guardians Eyeing Tyler Eppler?
On December 21, rumours began circulating online that the Guardians might be interested in Tyler Eppler as their foreign pitcher.
A few hours later, the Guardians told Liberty Sports that Tyler Eppler is indeed on their radar and is one of the potential foreign player candidates for the 2023 season.
[Rumour] #CPBL columnist Wang Yi-Hsuan shared an internet rumour on his Instagram that Fubon Guardians might be looking at signing Tyler Eppler for the 2023 season. ? pic.twitter.com/brqAE7ZISW
— CPBL STATS – ♥️ #95, Mina (@GOCPBL) December 21, 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.
Is Franco likely to be Fubon’s closer in 2023?
I think Enderson Franco will mostly as a setup man. But will occasionally split the closer time with Tseng Jyun-Yue.