CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #333
<<Vol #331 | Vol #334>>
Fubon Guardians News: Jack Labosky
As we approach the end of the 2024 first-half season, the Fubon Guardians have been busy behind the scenes. According to public records, the Guardians submitted two new hiring applications to Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor on June 21 and 28.
Fast forward to June 30, CPBL columnist Wang Yi-Hsuan broke the news on his social media that the Fubon Guardians have signed Jack Labosky as their new foreign pitcher from the Atlantic League.
The 27-year-old American right-hander also confirmed the signing on his social media, stating that he will be playing for the Guardians for the remainder of the 2024 season.
“The odyssey that is my baseball career again takes a fortunate turn. It’s an exciting feeling to come back from an early retirement to another unique experience, this time taking me across the globe,” said Jack Labosky on his social media.
Now, how come that name sounds so familiar? Well, that’s because Jack Labosky is also known as the “bus guy,” who made the news when he decided to live inside a school bus while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays organisation.
Jack Labosky began his professional career in 2018 when the Tampa Bay Rays drafted him in the 22nd round. Between 2018 and 2022, he quickly climbed up the minor league system and peaked at Triple-A, where he only made one appearance. In the 2021 Double-A season, he posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 79.1 innings.
After taking almost a two-year break, in 2024, Jack Labosky decided to come out of retirement and joined the Lancaster Stormers of the Atlantic League. Leading up to his signing with the Fubon Guardians, Jack Labosky has posted an outstanding 2.92 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 64.2 innings across 10 starts, making him one of the top pitchers in the Atlantic League.
As of today, the Fubon Guardians have Enderson Franco, Nivaldo Rodríguez, Brandon Brennan, Jake Dahlberg and Jack Labosky as their foreign players for the 2024 CPBL season. It is also worth noting that Jake Dahlberg is currently being sidelined with left elbow discomfort.
Stormers are sizzling🔥 winners of 10 in a row! Lancaster won both games of a doubleheader today against Hagerstown, sweeping the series!
◾️Check out our Game 2 highlights as Lancaster enjoyed an 11-0 shutout! Jack Labosky was great on the mound & the Stormers bats got it done! pic.twitter.com/ySCdZ7blZb
— Blue Ridge 11 Sports (@BRC11SPORTS) June 7, 2024
Further Readings
Foreign players come and go. Therefore, we have compiled a tracker to monitor all foreign player signings for the 2024 CPBL season.
I think Fubon liked the fact that Labosky pitched fairly well in a full season at the AA level. I still like the American Association’s Joey Matulovich, who’s only 26, but I don’t know if he’d be willing to play in Taiwan.