Yu Chun-Yu's First Start Ends in No-Decision; Coaches Urge More Pitch Variety

CTBC Brothers left-hander Yu Chun-Yu made his first professional start on the 20th. Pitching coach Wang Chien-ming advised that having more effective pitches could lead to different outcomes, while manager Hirano Keiichi noted that his pitch selection was too monotonous, urging him to build confidence in other pitches. Originally, foreign pitcher Nick Nelson was scheduled to start, but due to elbow discomfort, Yu took the mound. Yu pitched 4 innings against the Rakuten Monkeys, allowing 4 earned runs, including a home run, and ended with a no-decision. Yu stated that he was not overly affected by the professional environment but admitted he failed to capitalize on his best pitches that day. Regarding the home run, he noted the ball stayed too high. Coach Wang suggested that increasing his pitch variety would allow for more control over the game. Manager Hirano praised his stability in the first inning but suggested that his limited pitch selection might stem from a lack of confidence in other pitches, encouraging him to keep working hard.