Ko-Chien Lin

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Ko-Chien Lin (林克謙)

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.

BR register page

Biographical Information[edit]

Ko-Chien Lin pitched in the CPBL for 9 years.

Lin pitched for Taiwan in the 2001 World Youth Championship. He made it to Taiwan's senior national team for the 2005 Asian Championship while still a teenager. In the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week, he allowed no earned runs in 1 2/3 IP and got a win. He also appeared in the 2006 World University Championship, 2006 Asian Games and 2006 Intercontinental Cup. In the latter event, Lin went 1-0 and allowed 4 runs in 6 innings of work.

The Taitung native went 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA in the 2007 World Port Tournament despite allowing 9 hits and 2 walks in 9 2/3 IP. In the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, he allowed one hit and no runs in 3 innings as Taiwan earned a slot in the 2008 Olympics. During the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week, the right-hander allowed only two hits and no runs in 8 2/3 innings, winning one game and saving another. Lin surrendered just 3 hits and a run in 10 2/3 IP in the 2008 World University Championship, going 1-1 with his loss coming to the USA.

The Sinon Bulls drafted Lin in the second overall pick of the 2008 CPBL Draft, taken before former major leaguer Chin-Hui Tsao. He was shortly thereafter put on Taiwan's roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic but did not pitch in the Classic. Lin made his CPBL debut with the Bulls in 2009, and he soon became a regular starter. He was 10-7 with a 4.02 ERA in his rookie year, and he won the CPBL Gold Glove. Lin ranked 4th in wins (4 behind Itsuki Shoda), 4th in ERA (.32 behind Wei-Lun Pan) and 10th in strikeouts (48 behind Shoda). He also attended the 2009 CPBL All-Star Game, but he allowed 5 runs in an inning and got the loss. However, he lost the CPBL Rookie of the Year award to his teammate Yi-Chuan Lin.

After his fine rookie season, Lin underwent a right elbow injury and he missed the 2010 season. He came back in 2011, and he was 3-8 with a 3.55 ERA. THE Bulls turned him into a reliever in 2012, and he recorded a 2.50 ERA in 35 games with 10 holds. He ranked 7th in holds, 10 behind Chien-San Kao. Lin also attended the 2012 CPBL All-Star Game, but he allowed 5 runs in an inning again and got a blown save. Lin suffered from injuries in the next season, and the EDA Rhinos (the Bulls changed their name) released Lin after the 2013 season. He then represented Taiwan in the 2014 Haarlemse Honkbalweek.

The CTBC Brothers picked him up, and Lin had a 7.96 ERA in 33 games in 2015. He pitched 3 innings with a run allowed in the 2015 Taiwan Series, and the Brothers lost to the Lamigo Monkeys in 7 games. Lin improved in 2016 as he lowered his ERA to 4.50 in 37 appearances, and he collected 2 holds and a save. In the 2016 Taiwan Series, Lin gave up 5 runs in an inning, and the Brothers were beaten by the EDA Rhinos in 6 games. Lin had a solid 2.56 ERA in 32 games in 2017, but the Brothers still released the 31-year-old after this season. He then signed with the Fubon Guardians, but he only pitched 11 games with the big club in the next two seasons, then he announced his retirement.

Overall, Lin was 22-24 with a 4.19 ERA, struck out 203 and pitched 440 innings in 9 seasons in the CPBL.

Lin's repertoire included a slider, changeup, curveball, forkball, and a fastball (peak time 92 mph) with four-seam and two-seam movements.

Sources[edit]

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