Chung-Nan Tsai
From BR Bullpen
Chung-Nan Tsai (Prince of Split Fingers)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 196 lb.
Chung-Nan Tsai was a promising young pitcher in the Chinese Professional Baseball League before injuries cost him two seasons.
Tsai was Taiwan's ace in the 1999 Intercontinental Cup, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 14 innings. He allowed 3 runs in 7 innings in a win over the Italian national team and tossed 7 innings of one-hit ball against the Dutch national team. He tied for second in the Cup in victories. Tsai was 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in the 1999 World Port Tournament, with 28 strikeouts in 20 2/3 IP. He easily led in strikeouts, 12 ahead of Linc Mikkelsen and Orlando Stewart, and won World Port Tournament Best Rookie honors.
Tsai went 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in the 2000 Haarlem Baseball Week. In the 2001 Baseball World Cup, the right-hander allowed 9 hits in 13 2/3 innings, striking out 15 and going 1-1 despite allowing no earned runs. He allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings against Team USA, but all were unearned as the Taiwan club made five errors that game. In the quarterfinals, he again dominated the Dutch, who had two ex-major leaguers and two other AAA players. Tsai allowed 3 walks and a single in 8 shutout innings, whiffing ten in a 2-0 victory over Rob Cordemans. In the 2001 World Port Tournament, Tsai was 0-2 with a 2.57 ERA, less successful than he had been in the 1999 event.
In the International Baseball League of Australia in 2000-2001, Tsai was 3-1 with 2 saves and a 2.36 ERA for the Taiwan entry.
In 2002, Tsai turned pro and went 14-9 with a 3.49 ERA for the Sinon Bulls. He was 4th in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in wins and won the Rookie of the Year Award. Tsai was 11-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 2003 and was 8th in the CPBL in victories. Tsai fell to 4-6, 4.29 in 2004 while missing time with an arm injury.
Injuries plagued Tsai more as he missed all of 2005 and 2006. He returned in 2007 and was 5-4 with a 3.62 ERA.
Sources: CPBL player page, Taipei Times, IBAF website, KT Choi's CPBL database
