CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #388
CTBC Brothers News: Nolan Watson
On 23 May, ETtoday reported that the CTBC Brothers were targeting 28-year-old American right-hander Nolan Watson, and were likely to finalise the deal in the coming days.
Fast forward to 5 June, and the CTBC Brothers have officially announced the signing. According to the team’s press release, Nolan Watson has completed his physical and has reported to the Brothers’ farm team facility.
Nolan Watson began his professional career with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 as a first-round draft pick. However, due to injuries (including Tommy John surgery in 2019) and inconsistent performance, he never made it to the majors, reaching only as high as Triple-A in 2023.
Over two seasons at the Triple-A level, Nolan Watson recorded a 6.54 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 97.2 innings. Even taking into account the Pacific Coast League’s reputation as a hitter-friendly environment, his numbers were still above the league average. For context, the PCL’s average ERA in 2024 was 5.25.
Nolan Watson became a free agent at the end of the 2024 season. After leaving the MLB system, he went on to pitch in the Puerto Rican Winter League. In five appearances, he posted a 3.68 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 7.1 innings.
With the signing of Nolan Watson, the CTBC Brothers now have José De Paula (arm discomfort), Humberto Castellanos, Mario Sanchez (shoulder injury), and Nivaldo Rodriguez as their current group of foreign players.
Injury Update: Mario Sanchez, José De Paula
It is worth noting that two of the Brothers’ foreign starting pitchers are currently sidelined due to injuries.
Mario Sanchez, who has been out since 30 April, is undergoing PRP treatment for his right shoulder. There is currently no estimated timeline for his return. The Brothers reportedly signed Sanchez to a two-year deal, so it remains unclear how the team plans to manage the situation.
José De Paula, who exited the game early on 4 June, is set to undergo further medical examination due to discomfort in his left arm.
CTBC Brothers’ Mario Sanchez exited the game early due to right shoulder discomfort. According to the team, he will undergo further medical examination. pic.twitter.com/9JOXLKNeoH
— CPBL STATS (Taiwan Dark Lemon) 🪬🔮 (@GOCPBL) May 1, 2025
Further Readings
Foreign players come and go. Therefore, we have compiled a foreign player tracker, and I’ll be updating that list regularly to keep pace with the ever-changing roster shuffle throughout the 2025 CPBL season.