Foreign players updates Vol#8
Brothers news
After giving up 7 runs on his last start on the 17th of May. Chinatrust Brothers have released its foreign pitcher Rudy Owens. Owens was drafted by the Pirates in 2006 had made brief appearance with the Astros in 2014 and signed by Chinatrust Brothers in 2016. The 28 year old lefty who’s nicknamed by fans as “water-bucket brother” (Splashing teammates with water in post-game celebration) made 10 starts with a 4 W 3 L, 6.59 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP over 57.1 innings.
With Owens’ departure, the management decided to promote Nate Long from the farm league. Long was part of the Oakland As organisation. Had 13 starts in the AAA last season with a record of 3W, 5L, ERA 5.7. He was signed by Brothers at the end of April, been training with the farm team with 4 starts, 1.50 ERA, 0.96 WHIP over 24 innings. Long is scheduled to start this Sunday against Lamigo Monkeys at Taoyuan Stadium. From the interview with the local press, Long said he recognised CPBL is a hitters’ league, during his time with the farm league he has been doing a lot of homework with the coaches for facing other 3 teams batters.
Lions news
Uni-Lions yesterday had a farewell ceremony for its guest pitching coach Fumiya Nishiguchi (NPB – Seibu Lions) and the released outfielder Felix Pie for their service to the team. Pie fractured his ankle after fouling a pitch off his foot during his 5th games with the CPBL earlier this season. He was then released by Lions with the addition of the new foreign pitcher Ryan Kelly. Pie will be staying in Taiwan during his rehabilitation and have told the press that he is planning to head to KBO or NPB in late June for tryout.
Under the current CPBL structure. Once a foreign player been released they can not be signed by any other teams until the next season. The CPBL players union had made numerous complains in the past regards to this outdated rule.
EDA Rhinos
- Jared Lansford – Son of the MLB All-Star, batting champion Carney Lansford. Who was part of Lamigo Monkey rotation last season with 16W, 7L, 4.15 ERA, 1.49 WHIP over 178 IP
- Scott Richmond – Canadian Premier 12 squad member. Right hand starting pitcher. Pitched 2008 to 2012 for the Blue Jays. 2013 for the Lotte Giants in KBO. 2014 to 2015 for the Rangers in the AAA system.
- Mike Loree – Last year triple crowns winner in CPBL.
- [Released]
Hassan Pena – Cuban right hander. Will be the closer for this season.
Uni-President Lions
- Jair Jurrjens – 8 years of MLB experience, total of 53 wins with the career ERA of 3.72. Was part of the Premier 12 Netherlands National team.
- Bruce Billings – 2 years of MLB experience. Spent the entire 2015 in AAA with 8W, 5L, ERA 3.63.
- Ryan Kelly – 28 year old hard throwing right hander. Had an impressive AAA record last year with 0.59 ERA, 0.761 WHIP with 22 SV 46 IP Kelly made his MLB debut 2015 with the Atlanta Braves, recording a 7.02 ERA over 16.2 innings of relief.
- [Released]
Felix Pie – Lefty outfielder. 6 years in the MLB. Spent 2014 season in the KBO.
Lamigo Monkeys
- Orlando Roman – 38 year old Roman was part of the Brothers rotation back in 2010, 2011. Moved to NPB for Yakult Swallow between 2012 – 2015.
- Ryan Searle – Australian right hand starting pitcher with 7 years in the Cubs minor system experience.
- Greg Smith – 33 year old American left hander. Pitched for Athletics and the Rockies in 2008 and 2010. Finished the 2015 season with the Braves AAA team posting a 6-7, 2.71 ERA record over 119.2 innings with 19 starts.
- [Released]
Shane Youman – Returning to Lamigo once again. Pitched for Lamigo back in 2011, then moved to KBO between 2012 to 2015
Chinatrust Brothers
- Andrew Sisco – Hard-throwing lefty. Part of the EDA Rhinos rotation in 2013, 2014 and half of 2015.
- Robert Morey – 27 year old righty. 6 years in the Miami minor system. Spent the entire 2015 season in AAA with 14 starts, 89 innnings, 4.76 ERA, 1.51 WHIP.
- Nate Long – Right hand starting pitcher. Was part of the Oakland As organisation. Had 13 starts in the AAA last season with a record of 3W, 5L, ERA 5.7.
- [Farm Team] Kohsuke Tomita – Hard throwing righty, Tomita spend his last season at Rangers short A and ABL’s Melbourne Aces. This season has been playing at the Mexican Northern League with 6 starts, 44 SO, 3.86 ERA over 30.1 IP.
- [Released]
Elih Villanueva – 29 year old. Going for the starting rotation. Coming off the Dominican winter league with 10 starts 3W,5L - [Released]
Donovan Hand – 30 year old. Made a brief appearance to the Major last season. Will be part of the starting rotation. Spent majority of last 2 season in 3A with 5 wins, 14 lost and 13 saves. - [Released]
Rudy Owens – 29 year old lefty. Going for the starting rotation. Coming off the Domincan winter league with 11 starts, 2W3L ERA of 2.88.
