Tzu-Kai Chiu

Tzu-Kai Chiu (邱子愷)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6'0", Weight 212 lbs.

• School National Taiwan University of Sport‎
• High School Shi-Yuan High School

• Born September 14, 1987 in Taichung, Taiwan

BR register Page

Biographical Information

Tzu-Kai Chiu pitched in the minor leagues and the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Chiu represented Taiwan in the 2003 World Youth Championship and 2004 World Junior Championship. The Cincinnati Reds signed him with a $200,000 signing bonus in 2007, and he was the first Taiwanese player to join the Reds. The scout was Jim Stoeckel. Chiu pitched well with the GCL Reds in his rookie year, having a 3.42 ERA in 12 games in 2007. However, he suffered a left elbow injury, so he only pitched 2 games in 2008. Chiu had a 0.96 ERA in 6 games in 2009, but he recorded a 5.96 ERA with the Billings Mustangs. He was promoted to the A Dayton Dragons in 2010, and he recorded a 2.05 ERA in 15 relief outings. However, he struggled with the A+ Bakersfield Blaze in 2011, having a 6.82 ERA and the Reds released him.

The Uni-President Lions then selected him in the third round of the 2012 CPBL Draft. He pitched well in 2013, when he recorded a solid 2.11 ERA in 45 relief outings and collected 6 holds. He was also selected into the 2013 CPBL All-Star Game, relieving Wen-Yang Liao in the 6th inning and pitching a shutout inning. He didn't appeared in the 2013 Taiwan Series, but he still won his first Taiwan Series title as the Lions swept the EDA Rhinos.

Chiu was still reliable in 2014, having a 3.86 ERA in 38 appearances and collecting 9 holds. He ranked 7th in holds, 21 behind Yu-Hsun Chen. However, Chiu's ERA rose to 6.56 in 2015, and it even rose further to 7.56 in 2016. He only pitched 7 games in 2017, then spent his entire 2018 season in the minor league. The Lions then released him after the 2018 season, and his professional career ended. Chiu was a coach for Shi-Yuan High School after retiring.

Chiu's repertoire included a fastball (peak 91 mph), curveball, changeup, cutter and slider.

Overall, Chiu was 4-6 with a 4.87 ERA, collected 23 holds and pitched 142 1/3 innings in 5 seasons in the CPBL.

Sources

• Defunct IBAF site
• CPBL Player Page
• Taiwan Baseball Wiki
• 2011 Reds Media Guide