TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Oakland Athletics announced roster changes for Major League Baseball spring training on Monday (March 3), sending Taiwanese pitcher Zhuang Chen Zhong-ao (莊陳仲敖) and catcher Lyle Lin (林家正) back to minor league camp.
Zhuang Chen, 24, represented Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) qualifiers, starting against Spain on Feb. 25. He pitched three innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out one. Taiwan won games 6-3, with Zhuang Chen credited. Despite his success, Zhuang Chen has not yet played in major league spring training games and will return to minor league camp, where he previously had a 2.05 ERA in Double-A last year.
Lin, who excelled in last year's WBSC Premier12, was initially selected for the WBC qualifiers. However, he declined the Taiwan team offer after signing with the Athletics and receiving an invitation to major league spring training. Lin appeared in three spring training games without a hit in two at-bats. Last season, he achieved a .409 batting average in Double-A, with 18 hits in 44 at-bats, including one home run.
The Athletics' spring training roster includes 40 players, with 16 additional invitees. On Monday, the team announced the reassignment of seven players to minor league camp, including Zhuang Chen and Lin.
