Red Sox sign Tzu-Wei Lin - 美國職棒

http://0rz.tw/7H7Nf


The Red Sox have inked shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin from Taiwan to a $2.05M
contract, reports SoxProspects.com Editor-in-Chief Mike Andrews, and assigned
him to the Gulf Coast League. The money given to Lin equals the contract
signed by first-round draft pick and fellow shortstop Deven Marrero.

Lin, 18, is rated the #18 international prospect and the #1 prospect in Asia
by MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo. He originally had an agreement with the Yankees
as a 16-year-old in August 2010, but the $350K contract was apparently
invalid and the deal fell through. Since that time, Lin's stock has only
risen, winning the 2010 IBAF 18-under Player of the Year award, and
dominating the 2011 Asian BFA Junior Tournament, going 10 for 21 with two
home runs, eight RBI, seven runs scored and two stolen bases.

The Taiwan Baseball Blog has an extensive scouting report on Lin, with the
highlight his fantastic 3.79 speed to first base. His defense also rates as
well above average, though there is the possibility that the combination of
Lin's blazing speed, strong throwing arm, and the Red Sox' organizational
depth at shortstop will result in a move to center field. While his small
stature, standing only 5-foot-9 and weighing 155-160 pounds, contributes to
what is considered below-average home run power, Lin profiles to hit for
excellent gap-to-gap power due to his excellent hand-eye coordination and
ability to square up on the ball.

The contract is the second highest in major league history given to a
Taiwanese player, trailing only the $2.2M deal given to Tsao Chin-hui by the
Rockies in 1999. It is the largest bonus given to the Red Sox for an amateur
player out of Asia, topping the $1.8M given to Junichi Tazawa in December
2008.

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