CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #70
Uni-Lions News: Austin Bibens-Dirkx
According to NOWNews, the Uni-Lions have signed the former Texas Rangers’ right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx for the 2019 CPBL season. When asked by the media, the Uni-Lions has declined to comment, but they hinted the new pitcher is someone who pitched in the MLB last year.
*Update, January 13: The Uni-Lions’ general manager Su Tai-An confirmed the signing of Bibens-Dirkx on the first day of the Spring Training.
The 33-year-old Bibens-Dirkx pitched two seasons in the MLB with a combined record of a 5.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, across 114.1 innings over 37 games with the Texas Rangers in 2017 to 2018.
Pitching Repertoire: Austin Bibens-Dirkx
Below are some of Austin Bibens-Dirkx’s pitching clips. Pitcher List has done an amazing job breaking down all his pitches in the MLB.
Fastball (41.58% Thrown, 90.35mph)
Slider (28.35% Thrown, 86.7mph)
Changeup (16.14% Thrown, 84.7mph)
Curveball (13.92% Thrown, 79.7mph)
Had a Chance to Play in Taiwan Last Year
Although this is Austin Bibens-Dirkx’s first time to pitch in Taiwan, it is not the first time we hear his name came up as a potential CPBL foreign player.
On February 17, 2018, Bibens-Dirkx told The Athletic that he received a pretty good offer to play in Taiwan from an unnamed CPBL team. Many people speculated it was either the Fubon Guardians or the Uni-Lions made the offer to Bibens-Dirkx.
Further Readings
Foreign players come and goes, therefore we compiled a foreign players tracker to keep track of all the foreign players signing for the 2019 CPBL season.
Not a bad choice for the Uni-Lions at all. Bibens-Dirkx didn’t have a great ERA in AAA, but his strikeout rate was pretty good, and he’s pitched in the MLB majors the last two years, although not with great results in 2018. As a veteran pitcher, he probably knows how to get himself in shape.
Any rumors about the Uni-Lions may have agreed to pay him?
No rumour on the salary yet. But I’m sure eventually the media will publish something.
Don’t let him sign autographs
Oh? What’s the story behind it?