Minor League Ball: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Cal RB Jahvid Best Seriously Injured, Carted Off Field

Fu-Te Ni Ain't Nothin' Ta F With

ESPN reported on their transaction wire that the Tigers inked Fu-Te Ni to a minor-league deal. 'Kay.

Okay, seriously. As per The Detroit Tigers Weblog, Ni's expected to start the year in AAA and work out of the bullpen. He's a lefty, and... well...

Ni is 26 and from the above video his fastball appears to top out at 87 mph. It looks like he has a breaking ball that sits in the mid 70’s. It appears that he had garnered some interest from the Mariners as well. Ni is billed as The Taiwanese Okajima.

That video, seen here, shows some highlights of Ni starting in the 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament against Canada, and he makes a few Canuckistani hitters look foolish. (He'd get a no-decision after Taiwan blew a 5-4 lead in the ninth when Mike Saunders drove in The Immortal Stubby Clapp.)

He's the first CPBL player to sign with an MLB team, although a few players out of that league have done well in Japan. Another take from Taiwan Baseball:

In 2008 CPBL play, the two-year pro had 5 wins and 12 losses to go with a 3.34 ERA over 145.1 IP. He led the league in K's with 132 and allowed 35 BB's. Ni throws comfortably in the mid to upper 80's (he's topped out at 93 mph) and throws a slider, curve, changeup, and forkball.

So what're your hopes for the guy? Bullpen arm? Possible starter? Okajima (pre-2007 All-Star break) or Okajima (post-2007 All-Star break)?

1 recs  |  Comment 6 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I'm just saying what you're all thinking.

Has he been knighted?

http://www.chop-n-change.com

by alexwithclass on Jan 13, 2009 12:58 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

(farts in your general direction)

"That is like saying my ‘upside’ is Brad Pitts face, with Einstein’s brain, and Ron Jeremy’s unit. It is nice to dream, but that ceiling isn’t going to happen." (King Billy Royal)

by drjayphd on Jan 13, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yawn

Soft tossing lefty reliever/mop up man.

by alskor on Jan 13, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

If it was me

I’d have him work as a starter. There’s enough there for Fu-Te to be a potential mid-end of the rotation lefty.

That said, my guess is that the Tigers are hoping to accelerate things and hope he can be in the pen sooner than later.

I think the bigger issue, as with most Asian pitchers coming over, is adjusting to the ball.

by toonsterwu on Jan 13, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

fantastic name

and he looks good on youtube

by daveh33 on Jan 14, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Great thread title

I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad

by thecoolest on Jan 14, 2009 8:05 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Minor League Ball: Where the Future of Baseball is Discussed
Start posting on Minor League Ball »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Pose_small
SHS 'spect list continued....101-201
Hu_080227mag_uptonscover_small
daveh's top 111 prospects for 2010
Pose_small
SHS' 2010 top 100 prospects in MiLB

Recent FanPosts

N16115505_31581383_8646_small
Rising Stars Chat
Small
Dexter Fowler and UZR
Small
Teahen to the White Sox....
Planetterror_small
Stephen Strasburg is out of the AFL Rising Stars Game
N16115505_31581383_8646_small
Twins Acquire J.J. Hardy For Carlos Gomez
Small
BA NYM TOP 10
Batmanbaseball_small
Timmy Lincecum likes weed.....
Small
Lester or Votto
Kurtz_small
Hermida Traded to Red Sox
Small
Community Prospect List - Reds

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Carew_small John Sickels


Site Meter