Chin-Lung Hu
Hu with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Fubon Guardians – No. 15
Shortstop
Born: (1984-02-02) February 2, 1984
Tainan City, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 1, 2007, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
CPBL: March 24, 2013, for the Eda Rhinos
MLB statistics
(through 2011 season)
Batting average.176
Home runs2
Runs batted in18
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Chinese Taipei
Men’s Baseball
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2006 DohaTeam
Silver medal – second place2010 GuangzhouTeam
Asian Baseball Championship
Bronze medal – third place2007 TaichungTeam
Silver medal – second place2009 SapporoTeam
Chin-Lung Hu
Traditional Chinese胡金龍
Simplified Chinese胡金龙

Chin-Lung Hu (born February 2, 1984, Chinese 胡金龍 Hú Jīnlóng) is a Taiwanese professional baseball shortstop for the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. He was the fifth player — and first infielder — from Taiwan to play in MLB. His last name (along with that of fellow Taiwanese Fu-Te Ni, formerly of the Detroit Tigers) is the shortest in MLB history.

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Hu was signed by the Dodgers on January 31, 2003, and began his professional career with the rookie league Ogden Raptors in 2003. He split 2004 between the Columbus Catfish in A ball and the Vero Beach Dodgers in High-A ball. In 2005, he played the whole season at Vero Beach and hit .313 with 23 stolen bases.

In 2006, he played for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. Hu played in the All-Star Futures Game during the All-Star break in both 2006 and 2007. He won the MVP award for his performance in the 2007 game.[1]

Hu bats in Portland in 2007

He was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on July 12, 2007, and made his major league debut on September 1, 2007, against the San Diego Padres. In his second MLB at bat, Hu hit a solo home run against the San Diego Padres reliever Brett Tomko on September 11, 2007, against the Padres, becoming the first position player born in Taiwan to hit a home run in MLB. (Hu's teammate, pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, had become the first Taiwanese-born player to hit a home run in MLB earlier in 2007). On September 25, Hu hit a two-run homer against the Colorado Rockies' starting pitcher Ubaldo Jiménez and became the first Taiwanese-born player to hit two home runs. Hu spent most of 2009 in AAA with the Albuquerque Isotopes and appeared in only five games with the Dodgers after a September callup.

In 2010, he again spent most of the year with the Isotopes. He appeared in 14 games with the Dodgers in 2010 and got 3 hits in 23 at-bats.

New York Mets

Hu with the New York Mets

On December 27, 2010, he was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for pitcher Michael Antonini.[2] On May 17, he was outrighted to the minor leagues.

Cleveland Indians

Hu fielding for the Cleveland Indians in 2012 spring training

After playing for the Adelaide Bite of the Australian Baseball League and starting shortstop for the World All-Stars at the 2011 Australian Baseball League All-Star Game, Hu signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians in January, 2012.[3] He was released on March 28, 2012 and signed to a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, however his contract was voided the next day after he failed a physical. He then signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for the 2012 season.[4]

EDA Rhinos/Fubon Guardians

Hu's on first, with the EDA Rhinos

In 2013, he signed with the EDA Rhinos of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[5] Hu was named captain of the team.[6] On September 11, 2016, Hu hit two home runs as part of a CPBL record eight home runs hit by the Rhinos.[7] Hu and the Rhinos won the 2016 Taiwan Series, before the team changed its name to the Fubon Guardians the next season.[8]

While playing in the CPBL, Hu participated in the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[9][10] On April 18, 2020, Hu became the 23rd and fastest player in CPBL history to reach 1,000 hits.[11] He was demoted to the CPBL minor leagues on June 25, 2020, as a message posted on the messaging application Line suggested that Hu advocated for the firing of field manager Hong I-chung.[12]

International career

Hu played for Chinese Taipei in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Hu was selected for Chinese Taipei national baseball team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, 2006 Asian Games, 2010 Asian Games and 2017 World Baseball Classic.

He missed the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2013 World Baseball Classic editions of the event due to injury.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Singer, Tom (June 8, 2007). "Dodgers prospect named Futures MVP". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Dodgers part ways with Chin-Lung Hu". ESPN.com. December 27, 2010. Archived from the original on December 30, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ Paul Hoynes (January 13, 2012). "Cleveland Indians GM Chris Antonetti works on making that first decision". Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  4. ↑ "MLB's Hu Chin-lung to join minor league team". The China Post. China News Analysis. April 4, 2012. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  5. ↑ Pan, Jason (20 January 2013). "CPBL: EDA Rhinos take over from Sinon Bulls ballclub". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  6. ↑ Huang, Paul (26 October 2013). "Rhinos looking to win for late coach". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Pan, Jason (12 September 2016). "EDA Rhinos go top of table after five-game win streak". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Pan, Jason (30 October 2016). "Rhinos charge to Taiwan Series win". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Ko, Lin (15 November 2019). "Taiwan loses to U.S. 2-3 in Premier12 Super Round". Central News Agency. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  10. ↑ Yeh, Joseph (12 November 2019). "Taiwan crushes S. Korea in Premier12, keeps Olympic hopes alive". Central News Agency. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Yen, William (18 April 2020). "Former MLB player becomes fastest to 1,000 hits in Taiwan league". Central News Agency. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  12. ↑ Pan, Jason (27 June 2020). "Guardians' Hu demoted after post sparks ruckus". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
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