On Tuesday, the New York Yankees announced that they signed right-hander Chien-Fan Lai, the top Taiwanese pitching prospect from the 2026 international signing period class.
The 18-year-old’s signing bonus with the Yankees is approximately $850,000, according to a report from MLB.com’s Jesse Borek.
“The signing of Chien-Fan represents our renewed commitment to players in Taiwan, and in Asia as a whole,” Yankees director of international scouting Mario Garza said in a statement.
Lai made three appearances for Chinese Taipei at last year’s U18 Baseball World Cup in Japan, allowing just one run with 14 strikeouts in seven innings.
“As I have gotten to know Chien-Fan, I have seen a focused and self-assured individual with great aptitude and a desire to improve. Through a scouting lens, he has an impressive multi-pitch mix, including a heavy fastball and quality off-speed pitches with solid command,” Garza added. “This combination of traits allows us to believe that he will acclimate himself well in our development system, maximize his on-field potential, and eventually become a productive Major League pitcher.”
This season is Garza’s first as New York’s director of international scouting, though he’s been with the organization for the past 16 years. Garza’s previous roles include director of Latin American operations and assistant director of international player development.
Lai’s fastball reaches as high as 95 mph, per Borek. His second-best offering is a curveball, and he also mixes in a slider and changeup.
The first stage of Lai’s career with the Yankees will be at the Dominican Summer League, a rookie league that helps teenage prospects develop their skills. Essentially, winning and losing in the DSL play less of a factor than at most minor league levels.
Lai would become just the second Taiwanese player to reach the Majors with the Yankees if he manages to accomplish the feat. The first was right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, who spent parts of five seasons (2005-09) with New York.
Photo: The New York Yankees today announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher Chien-Fan Lai—the highest-rated Taiwanese pitcher in the 2026 class—as a non-drafted free agent (Courtesy of New York Yankees Player Development On X)
