Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions slugger Lin An-ko, the only Taiwanese player among the three finalists for the CPBL’s regular-season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for this year, has exercised his overseas free agency option.
The league announced Lin’s decision on Monday, making him the second CPBL player this off-season to explore opportunities with overseas teams — mainly in Japan and the US — while still under contract with the Lions.
Lin, 28, signed a three-year, NT$21.6 million (US$697,810) deal with the Uni-Lions earlier this year. Under CPBL regulations, he remains eligible to request a posting after this season, having played for the team for at least three full seasons.
Photo: CNA
Uni-Lions general manager Su Tai-an told reporters that the team had offered Lin an early contract renewal during their meeting on Monday morning, but Lin was determined to pursue an overseas opportunity and submitted his application later that day.
Although Lin is still under contract, Su said that the agreement was made under mutual understanding and the franchise respected Lin’s determination to chase his dream.
The team would assist Lin in related procedures and wished him luck, he said.
Lin joined the Uni-Lions as the fourth overall pick in the 2019 mid-season draft. In his first full season in 2020, he smashed 32 home runs to earn the Rookie of the Year award.
He batted a career-best .318 over 90 games this season and hit his 100th CPBL home run in a game against the Fubon Guardians in Tainan on June 28.
Clubs from Nippon Professional Baseball have expressed interest in Lin, local media reported.
Should he move abroad, the Uni-Lions would lose a key domestic talent for the second consecutive off-season, following the departure of fireballer Gu Lin Ruei-yang last year.
Lin is vying for the CPBL regular season MVP with CTBC Brothers ace Nivaldo Rodriguez and Rakuten Monkeys pitcher Pedro Fernandez, who was named this years Taiwan Series MVP.
The league was to announce the winner at its annual award ceremony after press time last night.
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