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Lo becomes Taiwan’s first player to sign with Astros

Taiwanese hurler Lo chia-jen pitches against China at the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 14. Lo signed with the Houston Astros on Friday. PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

The Houston Astros signed right-handed Taiwanese pitcher Lo Chia-jen to a minor league contract on Friday.

The 22-year-old Lo became the first Taiwanese player to join the Astros organization. Pingtung-born Lo inked a contract worth US$250,000.

A member of Taiwan’s Olympic team, he yielded one run in two innings during the Beijing Games in August.

IMPRESSED

Astros general manager Ed Wade said the team’s top Pacific Rim talent scout, Glen Barker, had seen Lo play in Taiwan and in Beijing and had been impressed.

“We are extremely excited to add another quality arm to our development mix and to be on the board as a team that’s serious about its Pacific Rim presence,” Wade said.

Lo is expected to join the Astros for major league spring training next year, but he is expected to begin the season at Class A.

“I’m really excited and happy to be here to join the Astros team,” Lo said through an interpreter at Minute Maid Park on Friday.

‘THAT LOOK’

“He really likes the closer role,” Barker told the Houston Chronicle. “He has that look in his eye when he gets out on the mound.”

He’s ready to go. That’s what he likes to do. He has four pitches, so that possibility is there. He has a real overpowering fastball, really a good split, a good curve and a slider. He has a potential to be a starter,” he said.


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