Tigers invite Taiwanese LHP Fu-Te Ni to ST

from the Detroit News...

The Tigers have invited Taiwanese left-hander Fu-Te Ni to spring training.


Ni, 26 years old, was 5-12 with a 3.34 ERA last year in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, but he led that league in strikeouts with 132 in 145 1/3 innings.


He is 6 feet and weighs 172 pounds. Ni pitched for Taiwan in the 2008 Olympics and will also pitch for Taiwan in this year's World Baseball Classic.

I think this kid could be good judging the stats given. I mean, looking at his ERA, he didnt get much run support, and he would here Im hoping. Cabreras game can only go up from here since he got 36 HR and 100+ RBI "adjusting" to the league.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tigers tap Taiwan for bullpen help
Left-hander Ni, who led Chinese league in strikeouts last year, signs minor league contract.
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- The Tigers' search for bullpen solutions has extended to the Pacific rim.

Agreeing to a minor league contract with a spring training invitation, left-hander Fu-Te Ni on Tuesday became the first player from the Chinese Professional Baseball League to sign with an MLB team.

"His fastball comes in at 88-91 miles an hour," said Al Avila, the Tigers assistant vice president. "Plus our people who've been looking at him say he has a real good curve."

It's believed the deal included a signing bonus of $150,000-plus.

In all likelihood, he will begin the season at Triple-A Toledo -- because it's a slight step up from the Double-A-like CPBL, and because spring training will be interrupted by the World Baseball Classic. Ni will play for Taiwan in the WBC.

Detroit had competition for him, particularly from Seattle.

Ni, 26, was 5-12 with a 3.34 ERA last year for the China Trust Whales, who've since disbanded after financial troubles and a game-fixing scandal that did not involve Ni. His 132 strikeouts (in 145 1/3 innings) led the league.

Because he's been a starter, Ni is capable of more than one-hitter or one-inning stints as a reliever.

There's no consensus from Taiwan on Ni's potential. Some call him the "Taiwanese Okajima," referring to Hideki Okajima, Boston's excellent left-handed reliever from Japan.

However, the Web site East Windup Chronicle, which covers baseball in Taiwan, called the attention being given to Ni's signing "probably the most ado about a 'fringy' left-handed specialist."

Oddly, the career splits for Ni, who is 6-foot and 176 pounds, indicate he gets right-handers out more consistently than lefties.

From what I read elsewhere, it is part of his contract that the lowest they can place him is Toledo, if he does not make the main club.

Yay?

I think its a good thing. I mean, its bullpen help, and he seems like a K monster.

We are the Knights Who Say Ni! Ni! Ni!

swiss_tiger wrote:

We are the Knights Who Say Ni! Ni! Ni!

LOL! we started a thread on that very same quote on the other board~~