Kun-Sheng Lin

Kun-Sheng Lin (林琨笙)
formerly known as Yu-Ying Lin

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 195 lb.

• School National Taiwan University of Sport
• High School Taichung Agricultural Senior High School

• Born March 8, 1987 in Taichung County Taiwan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Kun-Sheng Lin caught in the CPBL for 12 seasons.

Lin played for Taiwan in the 2003 World Youth Championship. He was 4 for 28 with 2 walks as the Taiwan team catcher in the 2007 World Port Tournament at age 20. Later that year, he was 3 for 11 with 2 doubles, 3 runs, a walk and a steal while backing up Chun-Chang Yeh in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. Lin was just 2 for 18 in the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week. He hit .263/.263/.368 in the 2008 World University Championship, saving his best for last - he was 3 for 4 in the Bronze Medal Game and scored all 3 of his runs in the tourney that game to help Taiwan to victory. He was on Taiwan's roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic but did not play in the Classic, backing up Chih-Kang Kao.

In the 2009 World Port Tournament, Lin was 1 for 5; his lone hit drove in the winner against Japan in the 11th inning of Taiwan's opener. He also represented Taiwan in the 2009 Asian Championship, winning Silver. He remained with them for the 2009 Baseball World Cup, hitting only .182/.206/.182 with no runs and one RBI in 11 games, though he threw out 3 of 7 who tried to steal. He was 3-for-9 in the 2010 Intercontinental Cup, backing up Chih-Kang Kao and playing error-free defense. He went 3 for 7 in the 2010 Haarlem Baseball Week, backing up Chun-Chieh Wang. He won Silver in the 2010 Asian Games.

The Sinon Bulls selected Lin in the fourth round of the 2010 CPBL Draft, and he soon became their starting catcher. Lin hit .272/.347/.331 with 7 doubles, and he also attended the 2011 CPBL All-Star Game as a rookie; he was 1-for-2. He improved to .282/.343/.405 in 2012, but he slumped to .239/.288/.305 in 2013. Lin won his first CPBL Gold Glove as a catcher, and he also attended the 2013 CPBL All-Star Game; he was 1-for-1 with a double. In the 2013 Taiwan Series, Lin was 1-for-12 and the EDA Rhinos (the Bulls changed their name) were swept by the Uni-President Lions.

Lin suffered from a right shoulder injury in 2014, so he only played 23 games. He then represented Taiwan in the 2014 Asian Games, going 1 for 9 with two walks, two runs and two RBI as Taiwan won Silver. He came back in 2015 and he hit .336/.373/.409 in 57 games. Lin was selected into the 2015 CPBL All-Star Game, and he was 1-for-1. In 2016, he played a career-high 91 games, and his batting line was .266/.306/.358. He recorded a .278/.316/.278 batting line in the 2016 Taiwan Series, and the Rhinos beat the CTBC Brothers in 6 games. Lin then played for Taiwan in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and he was 4-for-7. He had Taiwan's best average, 6th in the tourney (between Gregory Polanco and Allan de San Miguel).

However, Lin slumped to .211/.245/.233 in 2017, and he lost the starting spot. He bounced back soon, hitting .259/.304/.317 in 77 games in 2018, and he won his second Gold Glove. He improved to .299/.315/.397 in 2019, then his batting line was .258/.286/.362 in 2020. However, Lin slumped to .202/.234/.244 in 2021 and prospect Pei-Feng Dai took his spot. He only played 15 games in 2022, then he announced his retirement. He became the fielding coach for the Fubon Guardians in 2023.

Overall, Lin hit .262/.305/.342 with 494 hits and 98 doubles in 12 seasons in the CPBL.

Sources

• 2008 World University Championship final report
• Harry Wedemeijer's site
• CPBL.com Bio
• IBAF
• Taiwan Baseball Wiki
• World Baseball Classic
• 2009 World Port Tournament
• 2009 Baseball World Cup Final Report
• 2010 Intercontinental Cup Final Report
• Wayback Archive, 2010 Haarlem Baseball Week
• 2014 Asian Games site