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Yankees sign 18-year-old Taiwanese pitcher Chien-Fan Lai as a free agent

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees signed 18-year-old Taiwanese right-handed pitcher Chien-Fan Lai on Tuesday as a non-drafted free agent.

He represented Taiwan at the U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2025, helping his country win the bronze medal. Lai made three relief appearances, striking out 14 batters over seven innings.

Lai joins pitcher Chien-Ming Wang in 2000 and infielder Fu-Lin Kuo in 2009 as the only players from Taiwan to sign non-drafted deals with the Yankees.

Lai next will report to the organization’s Dominican Summer League Academy in the Dominican Republic.

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AP MLB:

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