First Hit with Fubon Guardians Placed Prominently, Lin Dai-an Uses It as a Reminder

(Central News Agency, reporter Su Chih-yu, Taipei, July 8) After a struggle of 19 at-bats, CPBL catcher Lin Dai-an finally recorded his first hit with the Fubon Guardians yesterday. Seeing the first hit ball, which his teammates helped him retrieve, Lin Dai-an, who doesn't usually collect commemorative balls, said he would place it in a conspicuous spot "to remind myself."

Lin Dai-an joined the Guardians this year as a free agent, signing a 7-year player contract with a coaching clause, with a total value of up to NT$56 million. However, he has had limited opportunities in the first team since the start of the season. Before yesterday's game, he had 20 plate appearances and 19 at-bats without a hit. But in his first at-bat in the bottom of the 3rd inning, he finally got a hit, ending the drought.

Lin Dai-an, who only got his first hit in the second half of the season, said in an interview today that it was the first time in his career he had encountered such a situation. "Of course, the number of at-bats is a bit small. When it happens, you just have to face it, and it's not necessarily a bad thing."

During this period, Lin Dai-an did feel the pressure, but he thanked the coaches and teammates for their continuous encouragement. For example, head coach Kōno Mitsutaka comforted him by sharing his own experience of going 27 at-bats without a hit. Lin Dai-an laughed and said, "I told him I still have 7 more chances, but thankfully I got the hit in the first at-bat yesterday."

Having only played 18 games in the first team this year, Lin Dai-an admitted that he is still adapting to some aspects after transferring teams and accepts the arrangements made by the coaching staff. The main focus is on adapting to the team's style of play and the pitchers' habits. "This requires practical experience to understand. My preparation was insufficient at the beginning, and I didn't understand the team's pitchers well, leading to some discrepancies in our coordination. I've been doing my homework over the past few months."

Kōno Mitsutaka also said that he had experienced going over 20 at-bats without a hit twice in his professional career. "It's like no matter what you do, you can't get a hit or get on base. Professional players might have had such experiences." He added that it's Lin Dai-an's first year after transferring teams, so "the pressure will be greater."

Will this hit increase Lin Dai-an's playing opportunities in the second half of the season? Kōno stated that he will still arrange his playing time based on data and performance. However, for a catcher, "compared to hitting, we focus more on his defense and how he guides the pitchers." (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150708

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