According to Taiwanese publication TSNA, the Los Angeles Dodgers could be looking to further extend its reach East by signing another player from Asia.
The report seems to indicate that the Dodgers are “one of the most proactive MLB teams” interested in signing 25-year-old pitcher Hsu Jo-Hsi this offseason. The report also indicates interest from two teams in Japan (Orix Buffaloes, SoftBank Hawks).
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Jo-Hsi is considered to be one of the best pitchers in all of Asia. Debuting professionally in his native Taiwan at age 20, the right-handed flamethrower has a career record of 16-18. The numbers are a bit deceiving considering that Jo-Hsi has a 2.42 ERA during that time. He’s also struck out 349 batters in only 305 innings. Jo-Hsi also has allowed a meager 229 hits during this period.
Various other reports seem to indicate interest from the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers among others.
Jo-Hsi is a fascinating prospect in terms of his stature and profile. Some reports list him at 5-foot-11 and roughly 170 pounds. Others have him at 5-foot-9 and under 170 pounds. He’s a member of Taiwan’s WBC team — and as such could be primed to garner even more notoriety and interest from clubs around the world.
It’s said that Jo-Hsi has a fastball sitting in the upper 90s with a strong assortment of off-speed pitches. Injuries have been somewhat of an issue for him. Despite being a starter, there’s a world where Jo-Hsi profiles as a high-leverage reliever for MLB teams.
Japanese ballclubs would be able to offer Jo-Hsi far more money comparatively speaking to MLB clubs bracketed by international bonus money.
There have been a host of former Taiwanese players making their mark in the big leagues. Most notably include former Dodgers All-Star pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, pitchers Chieng Ming-Wang and Wei-Ying Chang, and ex-LA player Ching Feng-Chang. Feng-Chang was the first Taiwanese player to feature in Major League Baseball.
Interestingly enough, more Taiwanese players have featured for the Dodgers compared to any other franchise.
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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