The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters announced that they’ve signed Gu Lin Ruei-Yang. The three-year deal includes a one-year option. Gu Lin pitched in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions last season.
Gu Lin, 24, made his CPBL debut at 19 in 2019. This past season, he helped carry the U-Lions to the Taiwan Series, where they lost to the CTBC Brothers. He posted a 10-2 record and a 1.66 ERA in 26 starts, striking out 150 batters in 125 innings while only walking 28.
The right-hander was rewarded for his remarkable season, taking honors as the CPBL MVP. His fastball sits around 94-97MPH and includes a splitter, curveball, and slider in his arsenal.
Now, Gu Lin joins a rotation composed of Hiromi Itoh, Koki Kitayama, Takayuki Katoh, Shona Kanemura, and Sachiya Yamasaki. It will be fascinating to see how Gu Lin will adjust to life in Japan, as he prepares for his first season away from Taiwan. He’s also set to join Ariel Martinez, Chusei Mannami, and former MLB slugger Franmil Reyes as the Fighters look to continue their success heading into the 2025 NPB season.
