*This content was translated by AI.
Australian left-handed pitcher Jack Oruklin (26), who played for Samsung Lions in the KBO League this season, is set to join Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) team CTBC Brothers. However, physical strain from an unbroken schedule since last winter has emerged as a key variable.
Local media outlets, including Taiwan's LTN, reported on the 22nd that "CTBC Brothers are pursuing Oruklin's signing, and he has already arrived in Taiwan and joined the team."
The CTBC organization also issued an official statement: "Oruklin has entered Taiwan and is conducting training and testing with the club. An official announcement will follow once all procedures are finalized." Hirano Keiichi (47), CTBC's manager who met Oruklin on-site, reportedly responded cautiously, stating, "I have reviewed Oruklin's footage. As no formal contract has been signed yet, I cannot provide specific details."
Standing at 196cm, the tall left-hander Oruklin is well-known to Korean fans. During the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March, he appeared as a relief pitcher for the Australian national team, delivering a strong performance against South Korea with 3⅓ innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run. He also shut down Taiwan's broadcast commentators for three innings in a game against them but faced backlash from Taiwanese fans after throwing a pitch that struck Chen Chih-shen, the captain of the Taiwan national team, causing a finger fracture.
Building on his WBC performance, Oruklin joined Samsung Lions this season, appearing in 17 games (83⅓ innings) with a record of five wins and five losses, an ERA of 4.86, before departing the team. His final appearance was against LG Twins on the 8th.
The issue lies in Oruklin's accumulated fatigue. Starting from the Australian Baseball League (ABL) last November, he was called up for the WBC national team earlier this year and then immediately entered Samsung Lions' starting rotation, enduring a non-stop schedule without rest. If he joins the Taiwan league right away, it would mean pitching continuously throughout the entire year. The Samsung organization itself acknowledged this concern and expressed worry.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
