The "20-year-old Taiwanese supernova" who tormented South Korea and Japan is now the target of their pursuit: Lin Yi-wei, "If given the chance, I would like to play overseas..." Could he become the next Wang Yencheng?

*This content was translated by AI.

It was not Wang Yencheng (25, Hanwha Eagles), nor Lin Wei-min (23, Arizona Diamondbacks). They were helpless against the 20th-year-old right-handed supernova Lin Yi-wei (Co-op Bank), about whom information is hard to come by. Expectations are high as to whether he can become "the second Wang Yencheng."

In an interview with Taiwanese media outlet ETtoday on the 28th, Lin Yi-wei stated, "I have no reluctance. If given the opportunity, I would like to try playing on the overseas stage."

South Korea is aiming for a fifth consecutive title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. To achieve this, they had to overcome Taiwan, which was cited as their most formidable competitor. It appeared that Wang Yencheng, who knows South Korean baseball better than anyone, or Lin Wei-min, who had previously troubled South Korean batters, would take the mound for the opposing team.

However, the result was completely unexpected. A 20-year-old pitcher with a slender build took the mound. With a unique kicking motion, he stole the timing of South Korean batters. Although he allowed one run due to a defensive error in the second inning, his earned runs remained at zero through five innings. He threw 73 pitches to cover five innings, allowing only one hit. He completely shut down the all-professional South Korean lineup.

After Lin Yi-wei left the game, the Taiwanese bullpen wavered. They conceded four more runs and ultimately lost to South Korea 0-5. He also made a relief appearance in the Super Round match against Japan, covering two innings. He allowed one run again, but it was also unearned. In this tournament, he pitched seven innings with zero earned runs.

Although the tournament result was disappointing, Taiwan discovered another pitcher in Lin Yi-wei. For KBO teams and fans, he brought to mind Wang Yencheng. Since he has not yet entered professional baseball, there were thoughts that he could be a worthwhile lottery ticket to try for via the Asia quota.

The media reported, "News has emerged that he has already been added to the KBO Asia quota observation list. Recently, when he made a relief appearance in the match between Taiwan and Japan, NPB scouts were seen watching him from the stands."

It was also a very meaningful tournament for Lin Yi-wei. He said, "It was an amazing journey," adding, "I did not originally think I could dominate opposing lineups with my skills. Only after getting on the mound and throwing what I had prepared did I realize that I have the ability to face professional power hitters. I am grateful to myself for having worked hard in various ways up until now."

He is still cautious about going overseas or his future plans. In response to questions about moving abroad, Lin Yi-wei said, "It is difficult to say," adding, "For now, I want to focus on doing well with the things I can control. If my performance is good, I will naturally stand out."

Although he is cautious, his interest in overseas leagues is clear. Lin Yi-wei sought advice from senior teammates who shared the same team during this tournament. The media reported, "A few days after the match against South Korea, Lin Yi-wei reportedly approached pitchers with overseas league experience, such as Wang Yencheng and Hsu Shiang-sheng, to seek advice about the environment of overseas leagues."

He had the opportunity to participate in this year's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) rookie draft but decided to wait one more year. This was because he had a pre-set goal. When he graduated from high school in 2024, he participated in the CPBL draft but ultimately did not receive a selection from any professional team. After enrolling in university, he set a specific deadline of "three years" and established step-by-step goals.

He said, "This year, my goal is to pour everything into the Asian Games first and safely complete the Under-23 tournament at the end of the year," postponing his professional challenge until next year. However, it remains unknown whether that stage will be in Taiwan, or in South Korea or Japan.

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*This content was translated by AI.