also available at www.SethSpeaks.net –
According to Baseball America, the Twins signed a right-handed pitcher from Taiwan last June for $60,000. His name is Chen Hung-yi. He is an 18-year-old right-handed pitcher who has pitched on Taiwan’s national team in some international competitions. He is just 5-10 and stocky. His fastball is thrown around 87 mph although he has hit 91 on a radar gun. He also throws a sinker, slider and a forkball, although I wonder if the Twins would let him throw that pitch early in his career. He is also working on a changeup that will be very important for him if he wants to move forward. He is now on his way to Ft. Myers where he will join the Twins Extended Spring Training participants. He should pitch some for the GCL Twins this year.
The Twins continue to make their presence known all around the globe. He joins Lin Wang-Wei as the Twins signed from Taiwan.
According to this interview with Cary Broder, the Twins scout located in Taiwan who signed Chen Hung-yi, the Twins signed him last year. He also discusses the process and his involvement in the Twins signing of Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and much more. It is a terrific interview.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them here.
SethSpeaks.net 
It boggles my mind that any pitcher would not throw a fork ball, if they are stuck in AAA, just becaue the org doesn’t want them to. So, if Swarzak could develop an effective forkball, and make the majors, even for a couple of years, isn’t that better than being a AAAA player? *
*obviously it is different with an 18 year old….
very different for an 18 year old… I’m sure if Swarzak could throw a forkball, he would be by now.
Didn’t a prospect a couple of years ago say they weren’t allowed to throw one in AAA, or am I remembering wrong? If so, then nm….
I’m just amazed that there’s actually someone on the Twins’ payroll who works in Taiwan.
Seth, This kid was the Yu-Shan Cup MVP (whatever that is). I had information this winter that he signed for about $100k, which apparently was a bit high!