Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) Taiwan made two minor adjustments to its 24-man roster for the Asian Games baseball tournament in November, replacing two players who perform professionally in Japan.
Right-handed pitcher Lo Chin-lung and infielder Kuo Yen-wen were added to the roster to replace Seibu Lions pitcher Hsu Ming-chieh and Nippon-Ham outfielder Yang Tai-kang, according to national team manager Yeh Chih-hsien in Taichung City, where Taiwan is currently competing in the 2010 Intercontinental Cup.
Lo, who plays for the Triple-A team of the Colorado Rockies, was added because of his stellar play in the Intercontinental Cup, Yeh said. Yang withdrew from the team because of an elbow injury sustained during the Japanese professional baseball season.
Taiwan, which won the baseball gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, was left with only three outfielders following the roster changes.
But Yeh said he was more concerned with the infield defense and believed that several players on the team could double as outfielders.
Taiwan will not field any players currently active at the Major League level in the United States, but eight members of the team play in the minor leagues, and one (Kuo Yen-wen) played in the Cincinnati Reds' organization before being released recently.
The Asian Games will take place in Guangzhou, China, Nov. 12-27. The baseball competition is scheduled for Nov. 13-19.
The complete 24-man roster (with team affiliation in parentheses) after the changes is as follows:
Pitchers (10) : Cheng Hung-wen (Chicago Cubs) , Yang Yao-shun (Softbank Hawks) , Huang Chih-lung (Yomiuri Giants) , Lin Yi-hao (Yomiuri Giants) , Lo Chin-lung (Colorado Rockies) , Hsiao Yi-chieh (Hanshin Tigers), Yang Chien-fu (Sinon Bulls), Lin Ying-chieh (Sinon Bulls), Pan Wei-lun (Uni-President Lions), Chen Kuan-yu (Taiwan Beer)
Catchers (3): Chen Chun-shiou (Cleveland Indians), Kao Chih-kang (Uni-President Lions), Lin Kun-sheng (National Preparatory Team)
Infielders (8) : Hu Chin-lung (LA Dodgers) , Chen Yung-chi (Pittsburgh Pirates), Lee Pin-yen (Softbank Hawks) , Peng Cheng-min (Brother Elephants) , Lin Yi-chuan (Sinon Bulls) , Chang Tai-shan (Sinon Bulls), Lin Chih-sheng (La New Bears), Kuo Yen-wen (formerly Cincinnati Reds)
Outfielders (3): Lin Che-hsuan (Boston Red Sox), Lo Kuo-hui (Seattle Mariners), Chang Chien-ming (Sinon Bulls) (By Chris Wang) Enditem/ls