Taiwanese pitcher Sun Yi-Lei (18), who signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, held an introductory press conference at a hotel in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday, October 16th.
The contract is for a developmental contract with a term of four years. In front of about 100 media and related personnel, pitcher Son donned a brand new Fighters uniform with the number 196 and expressed his determination, saying, "I'm happy to have received an offer from the Fighters. I want to work hard and become a regular player as soon as possible and contribute to the team's victories."

Fighters General Manager Atsunori Inaba, who was also present at the press conference, praised Sun's potential, saying, "We had been told that he had been improving since this spring, but seeing him in person, he has a fantastic fastball and great composure on the mound." He added, "Sun is a treasure of Taiwan. We hope that he will become a pitcher who can compete on the world stage in the future."

Comments from pitcher Sun Yilei

I am truly happy that General Manager Inaba called me "Taiwan's treasure." I was thrilled to receive an offer from the Fighters. Holding a press conference like this has been a dream of mine since I was little, but I am very nervous right now. The Fighters have been paying attention to me since I was in my second year of high school, and I was impressed and touched by how they carefully explained things not only to me but also to my family. I will work hard and become a registered player as soon as possible. I have a strong desire to contribute to the team's victory.

Comments from General Manager Atsunori Inaba

We, the Fighters, would like to express our gratitude to all the members of the Taiwanese press and everyone connected to pitcher Sun for taking the time out of your busy schedules to gather here today. We are very pleased to be able to announce pitcher Sun's signing here in Taiwan. Fighters' international scouts have been keeping an eye on pitcher Sun since he was in his second year of high school. I also saw him for the first time at the Under-18 tournament this September. I had been told that he had rapidly improved as a pitcher since this spring, but when I saw him in person, he threw an amazing fastball, had great composure on the mound, and I thought he was a truly wonderful pitcher. The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters have never signed an amateur player from overseas before. This is a historic event for us, and we believe that pitcher Sun is a pitcher worthy of being a part of this history. As you can see from the large number of media representatives gathered here today, pitcher Sun is a treasure of Taiwan. We will carefully nurture him and hope that he will become a pitcher who can compete on the world stage in the future.

Photo Gallery