Baseball star Yu Chang (張育成) on Tuesday announced he would enter this year’s CPBL draft, returning to Taiwan after a decade of playing in the US.
“It’s been ten years working away from home, I miss home very much, therefore I’ve decided to enter the 2024 CPBL draft,” he wrote on Instagram. “I really appreciate that the Rays organization has been very understanding and supportive of my decision.”
The infielder initially signed as an international free agent with the then-Cleveland Indians in 2013, making his major league debut for the team now called the Guardians in 2019.
Photo: Liao Yao-tung, Taipei Times
Between 2022 and last year, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.
Despite an electric showing for Taiwan at the World Baseball Classic in March last year, Chang was plagued by a wrist fracture in April that took him out of the game for months, followed by a hitting slump when he returned to the Red Sox roster in July.
The 28-year-old earlier this year signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, but shortly afterward sustained an oblique strain.
At the end of last month, he was again placed on the injury list after colliding with a teammate.
In the post, Chang said he is currently playing rehab games in Florida and would be back to playing soon.
The New Taipei City-based Fubon Guardians, who have first pick in the draft this year, said on Instagram that the franchise would discuss contract details with Chang.
Pending the conclusion of the draft and contract arrangements, the team said they “look forward to [Chang] wearing a Fubon Guardians jersey in the second half of the season.”
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