TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese pitcher Gu-Lin Ruei-Yang (古林睿煬) delivered a rare "Maddux" shutout — a complete game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches — against the Rakuten Golden Eagles (樂天金鷲) on Sunday (May 11), propelling the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (北海道日本火腿鬥士) to a decisive 4-0 victory in Japan's premier baseball league. The celebration proved short-lived, however, as the Fighters organization optioned the rising star to their minor league affiliate the following day.
The 25-year-old right-hander's masterful outing featured just two hits allowed while striking out seven opposing batters. The performance etched Gu-Lin's name in the record books as the first pitcher with experience in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, 中華職棒), the island's top-tier baseball competition, to achieve a "Maddux" in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. Through three starts this season, Gu-Lin has compiled an impressive statistical line: two wins against one loss, a 2.91 ERA across 21.2 innings pitched, 22 strikeouts, and a remarkably low 0.92 WHIP.
The Fighters' decision to temporarily demote Gu-Lin stems from their enviable depth in starting pitching talent rather than any performance concerns. Team management announced plans to promote Hosono Haruki (細野晴希), their prized first-round selection from the 2023 draft, for his season debut against the Orix Buffaloes (歐力士猛牛) on Thursday. Baseball insiders anticipate Gu-Lin's return to the major league roster by May 22, suggesting this demotion represents a strategic roster maneuver rather than a setback. ★
