Taiwanese flamethrower Pan Wen-hui (潘文輝), who has been signed by the Philadelphia Phillies, on Monday said he hopes to make it to the major leagues in five years.
The 20-year-old has signed a US$420,000 contract with the Phillies that consists of a US$350,000 signing bonus and US$70,000 to be spent on college expenses.
He is expected to depart on Saturday for a Phillies training camp in the Dominican Republic, media reports said.
Photo: CNA
“The goal I give myself is five years; I hope to get to the majors after five years,” Pan told a news conference announcing the signing on Monday.
Phillies scout Wang Jin-yong said Pan could actually make the big leagues in three or four years.
He described Pan as a player who is disciplined and works hard.
Pan throws four pitches — a fastball, splitter, slider and curveball — but his command is sometimes shaky, media reports said.
However, Wang said that if the young Taiwanese hurler works on his command and spin rate, his fastballs, which top out at more than 98 miles per hour (158kph), would get him a lot of strikes.
Pan was first noticed in 2019 when, at the age of 16, he threw a 96.4mph pitch during a high-school tournament. He has represented Taiwan in the Under-18 and Under-23 national teams.
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