Che-Hsuan Lin

From BR Bullpen

Che-Hsuan Lin

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.

High School Nan-Ying High School

Born September 21, 1988 in Hualian Taiwan

Che-Hsuan Lin is a prospect in the Boston Red Sox chain noted for his speed.

Lin was on the 2000 Pony League World Series champions. Lin hit .353 for the Taiwan team in the junior Asian Championships in 2006. He had a fine performance in the 2007 Elite High School Tournament in Taiwan, batting .533 to finish second. In the championship game, he was 4 for 4 with 4 RBI against another prospect, Rong-Hao Hsieh, to lead his team to victory.

Lin was timed at 10.9 in the 100 meter dash and 3.8 seconds from home to first base. Lin was scouted by several major league teams and signed for a bonus around $400,000 with the Boston Red Sox; Jon Deeble had scouted him for Boston.

Lin debuted in the USA in 2007. The teenager hit .263/.330/.457 in 43 games for the GCL Red Sox, stealing 14 bases in 17 tries and legging out six triples. He had 7 assists in 42 outfield games and his 4 double plays tied Lee Ellis for the lead among Gulf Coast League outfielders. He hit just .163/.265/.209 in 11 games for the Lowell Spinners. Baseball America rated him as the #4 prospect in the GCL behind Michael Burgess, Jesus Montero and Ben Revere. They also rated him as having the best outfield arm in the Red Sox system.

Lin joined the Taiwan national team for the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament. He hit .286/.344/.357 with 5 RBI and 2 steals in 7 games as their starting center fielder; Taiwan won a spot in the 2008 Olympics.

Lin was the star of the 2008 Futures Game. Replacing Fernando Martinez for the World team in center field, he hit a 2-run homer against Ryan Mattheus in the 7th inning to put his team up 3-0. Two innings later, he singled against Kevin Pucetas but was stranded. He won the Larry Doby Award as the game's MVP, the second straight Taiwan native to be so honored; Chin-lung Hu had won the award in 2007.

Lin was Taiwan's center fielder in the 2008 Olympics; he hit .269/.296/.385 and delivered a 2-run homer against Mike Johnson in their 1-run victory over Canada that earned them fifth place.

Lin was one of Taiwan's best performers in a weak showing at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He was 3 for 7 with two walks and a role out of the leadoff spot. It was Taiwan's only run of the tournament.