Lin Hui-sheng, the top draft pick for the Chin-Shin Brothers baseball club, delivered a promising performance in a team紅白戰 (紅白戦 – red vs. White scrimmage) on Sunday, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. The outing serves as preparation for a game against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on February 25th, where he hopes to face off against Yuki Yanada, the Hawks’ powerful hitter known as the “怪力男” (kairyokudan – “strong man”), according to reports.
Lin, who recorded a 3-1 record with a 2.86 ERA in his first season as a starting pitcher last year, threw just 12 pitches during the scrimmage. He noted his fastball felt great and his breaking ball was effective, adding that he focused on using his off-speed pitches when falling behind in the count rather than relying solely on his fastball to regain control.
The pitcher participated in autumn training with the Orix Buffaloes last season, receiving positive feedback from local coaches, who suggested minor adjustments to his technique. Lin stated he has incorporated lessons learned in Japan into his training regimen. His immediate goal is to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.
The February 25th game against the SoftBank Hawks will be Lin’s first encounter with a Japanese team. He expressed his excitement, while as well cautioning against rushing his approach. “Rushing has never led to anything good,” he said.
Lin also expressed his eagerness to pitch against Yanada, stating that facing renowned players is a motivating experience. “The goal is simply to finish the inning,” he added.
The Chin-Shin Brothers’ manager, Lin Wei-chu, recently praised another Japanese power hitter, Sato Hotaka, the first draft pick of the Hanshin Tigers, noting Sato’s impressive power during spring training, with four home runs in 41 swings, some estimated to have traveled 140 meters. The manager, a former teammate of Sato’s at Kinki University, encouraged him to focus on physical conditioning and demonstrate his abilities to the coaching staff.
The term “怪力男” (kairyokudan – “strong man”) has previously been associated with Jay Kirkpatrick, an American player who dominated the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in 1998 while playing for the Hsing-Nong Bulls. Kirkpatrick won four major awards that season, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s most formidable foreign hitters.