International Talk: Jen-Ho Tseng

[Jeremy Nygaard]

BA's Ben Badler has a lengthy column (behind the paywall) about Taiwan's Jen-Ho Seng. Long story short, he will be graduating soon and that is typically when Taiwanese player would look to sign. With the 2012-13 international spending period closing on Saturday, he will probably wait to sign until the new period opens.

 

Badler has talked to multiple scouts who consider Seng to the equivalent of a first-round pick (on his good days) who could be looking for Top-20 money ($2 million). The Twins have nearly $4 million to spend on the International Market.

 

Wikipedia page

 

 

A write-up from a Mets website.

[PseudoSABR]

Do the Twins have much history with Taiwanese players? Because doesn't it come down to the area scout's capacity to pitch an expensive sale to the Twins?

[bird]

The Twins have signed Taiwanese prospects in the past. Not many, but at least a couple.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The Twins have been one of the most aggressive teams in pursuiting Taiwanese amateurs, per the linked BA article.

[roger]

Kuo Hua Lo was signed out of Taiwan two years ago. He was one of the best starters for the GCL Twins last year with an ERA a bit over 1.00!

[rickyhawaii]

Also Twins signed Chih-Wei Hu a top Taiwan pitching prospect. Wang-Wei Lin was also in the system for a while. can only imagine they've scouted Tseng and have some interest

[Twins Twerp]

Are Tawainese and Korean prospects at a disadvantage compared to Latin American players because of age? Tawainese and Koreans usually graduate from HS where as Latin American players sign at about sophomore or junior in HS age.

[Badsmerf]

I really don't like his delivery. The only part of it I don't mind is his arm motion, and that is being generous. He would have a lot of work to do to be successful IMO. No way he is worth 2 million. Compare his video to Kohl Stewart (I know, Stewart is an elite prospect). The difference is pretty substantial. Kohl has things to clean up himself, but they look to be much more minor. I'd be disappointed if the Twins use a bunch of money on this guy.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I really don't like his delivery. The only part of it I don't mind is his arm motion, and that is being generous. He would have a lot of work to do to be successful IMO. No way he is worth 2 million. Compare his video to Kohl Stewart (I know, Stewart is an elite prospect). The difference is pretty substantial. Kohl has things to clean up himself, but they look to be much more minor. I'd be disappointed if the Twins use a bunch of money on this guy.

 

I hear where you are coming from, but when it comes to Asia pitchers, have you ever seen a delivery you did like?

[70charger]

I hear where you are coming from, but when it comes to Asia pitchers, have you ever seen a delivery you did like?

 

 

Worth the click.

[tcarlic]

No more Asians. Was Niskioka not enough? I thought the dude was going to be nasty, but nay, Asians are not meant for baseball.

[PseudoSABR]

Asians are not meant for baseball.

"Ichiro" always sounded suspiciously Spanish to me....

[Badsmerf]

No more Asians. Was Niskioka not enough? I thought the dude was going to be nasty, but nay, Asians are not meant for baseball.

There are plenty of Asians that have been successful in the MLB. Nishioka is an example of someone that couldn't adjust. That isn't fair to dismiss an entire continent because one guy was terrible lol.

 

My basis is entirely on what I could see. Maybe there is more to his game than that, but as has been proven, unconventional motions (batting or pitching) are rarely successful. You can name a bunch of them that stick out because it is so rare. I don't like Asian pitchers to begin with (you're very right Jeremy). I feel like their whole game will not translate to the MLB. The hitters are so good in the MLB that it takes more than craftiness to succeed.