Yu Hsi-chieh to Start Against Yokohama on June 7, Aiming for 3rd Win and First At-Bat

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 6) Yu Hsi-chieh, the Taiwanese pitcher for the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, who earned a win in his return to the first team at the end of May, will start again in an interleague game tomorrow. He will face the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, aiming for his third career win and will also step up to the plate for the first time in his professional career.

Yu was sent down to the minors on May 5 due to poor form. He returned to the first team on May 31 to face the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, pitching 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 7, walking none, and giving up no runs. His fastest pitch was 157 km/h, earning him his second career win. His strong performance was recognized, securing his place in the starting rotation.

The SoftBank Hawks are playing a three-game series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium starting June 5. Yu will start the final game of the series tomorrow. The starting pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars is Takato Ogata. As the game is at a Central League home stadium, pitchers are required to bat, so Yu will experience his first professional at-bat.

Yu's NPB first-team career statistics include 5 starts, 24.2 innings pitched, 5 home runs allowed, 24 strikeouts, 15 earned runs, a record of 2 wins and 3 losses, and an ERA of 5.47. He will aim for his third career win tomorrow. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150606