Dragons' First Pick is Liao Yung-chuan, Ye Chun-chang: Will Cultivate Him as a Two-Way Player First

(CNA reporter Su Chih-yu Taichung, June 29) The Chinese Professional Baseball draft was held today. The Wei Chuan Dragons, with the second pick, selected Liao Yung-chuan from Nanhua University, a "two-way player" capable of both pitching and hitting. Head coach Ye Chun-chang stated, "We will have him develop in both pitching and hitting first."

Liao Yung-chuan initially started as a position player. After advancing to Nanhua University, baseball team head coach Tsai Chung-nan recognized his pitching potential and began to cultivate it. Liao Yung-chuan, after being named by the Dragons today, told reporters in an interview that he prefers being a position player, but regardless of pitching or hitting, he is willing to go wherever the team needs him, saying, "I can be a two-way player too."

"Develop both," Dragons head coach Ye Chun-chang said in an interview. "Liao Yung-chuan has no problem with his hitting, and his success rate is very high. As a pitcher, he has less experience, and the team has also slightly confirmed if there are any injury risks."

Although the Dragons assess that they are short on infielders and pitchers, if they had the first pick, Ye Chun-chang would still choose Liao Yung-chuan, a pitcher and outfielder, because he has a good overall athletic ability. "The other difficult decision was Chiu Wen-yu (first-round pick by Taishang Eagles), but everyone felt that Liao Yung-chuan's demonstrated abilities are really quite good."

Liao Yung-chuan revealed that he originally estimated he would be selected within the third round and did not expect such an early pick. His goal is to be promoted to the first team as soon as possible. He considers his stolen bases and swing speed to be his weapons for challenging professional baseball, and he hopes to learn from his seniors, such as outfielder Kuo Tien-hsin, "His defensive range is very large, and his hitting skills are also very good."

However, Liao Yung-chuan may not have an opportunity this year. Ye Chun-chang stated that the probability of this year's rookies being promoted to the first team in the second half of the season is not high. The most likely candidate from the list is the third pick, Chia-yi University left-handed pitcher Li Sung-jui, "He is closer, but we won't rush to bring him up." (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 06/29/115

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