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All-Star Game 2007 celebration began with the Future Game on Sunday, with 50 top minor league prospects breaking into the US Team and World Team and compete against each other. Taiwanese short stop Hu Chi-Lung (or Chin-Lung Hu if you prefer first name first) received the Larry Doby Award as the gam’s MVP, going 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and a SB. Hu and World Team’s lead off hitter Michael Saunders (SEA-OF) started the game aggressively, putting pressure on the US Team’s catcher. The duo set the tone for the game by scoring the first run during the first inning, and again in the 3rd.

With the success of Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees, and Hong-Chih Kuo of the Dodgers beginning to show some success, the future of Taiwanese players are bright. After Chin-Feng Chen opened the door for the rest of Taiwanese players in 2002, although he didn’t have as much success as Wang, more ball clubs are looking into talents in the Far Far East. While people are crazy over Japanese players like Ichiro and Daisuke Matsuzaka, players like Hu are making noise in the minor league. Right now the Dodgers does not have a spot for Hu, with Rafael Furcal holding down the starting gig, but if Hu continues to perform well, he should generate plenty interests from other ball clubs. Hu has been one of Dodgers’ top prospect for the past couple years, earning a spot as #10 top prospect of the organization in 2005 according to Baseball America, along with the title of “Best Defensive Infielder.” I wish I can provide Dodgers’ top prospect list for 2006, or even 07, but those pages require subscription. Hu is known for his defense, speed, and plate discipline, even though he showed more power this year, raising his SLG from .338 to .508, but the stats that should translate well to the Majors is his OBP. He can certainly improve his eyes and his walk-strikeout ratio, but he should have a fine career ahead of him

The MVP of the Future Game, Chin-Lung Hu also represent the hope of Taiwanese fans, the hope that one day more Taiwanese players, especially position players since we have had mostly pitchers in the Bigs, will introduce the name of Taiwan to more people across the globe, and say goodbye to “Chinese Taipei.”

- Paul

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Filed under: Chien-Ming Wang, Chin-Lung Hu, MLB, Sports, Taiwan