Yang Dai-Kang, who batted over 40% in the independent league in the U.S. but left the Giants, says, “It will be tough to return to the Japanese baseball world.
Yang Dai-Kang, 36, who played for Nippon Ham and the Giants, seems to be doing very well in the independent league in the United States.
According to an article distributed by the online media outlet Full-Count on June 26, he has hit .457 in nine games since June 17 (Japan time), when he returned from injury, and although his batting average dropped to the .100 mark at one point, it has risen to the upper .200 range.
Yang came to the United States from his native Taiwan and joined an independent league in February of 2010. In the winter, he also participated in the Winter League in Australia. It is said that he has moved to another team in the independent league this year and is looking for a new place to play.
Yang is a “Taiwanese hero. Even with his high batting average, the American Independent League is probably not the best stage for a player of Yang’s caliber to play in.
Why did his performance plummet?
Yang is a high-level player who won the Golden Glove Award four times during his time with NIHAM and was also a stolen-base king. However, since joining the Giants in 2004 as a free agent, he has been in a slump. The Giants signed him to a five-year, 1.5 billion yen contract, but he only played in over 100 games in the ’19 season.
In 2009, he played only 7 games. It is hard to say that he worked for 300 million yen a year. The reason for this is the number of injuries. Since joining the Giants, injuries had become a regular occurrence, such as a thigh injury. He was proud of his legs when he was with Nichi-Ham, but he was in no condition to run satisfactorily.
The Giants were willing to sign him for 2010, but Yang is said to have refused. Yang left the Giants. The Giants were willing to sign him for 2010, but Yang is said to have refused.
The Giants showed their respect for Yang by extending his contract. The Giants games are also broadcast in Taiwan. The Giants’ games are broadcast in Taiwan as well, and Yang, the ‘hero’ of the Giants, was a big reason for the Giants’ popularity in Taiwan. However, it is also true that he was not a competitive force.
It is said that the Giants offered him a large salary cut of about 30 million yen. This is about 10% of his salary in 2009, far above the 40% reduction limit. Considering his performance, I think it was a fair amount, but Yo’s pride must have prevented him from taking it.
In the end, Yang chose to play in the independent league in the United States.
In the end, Yang chose to play in the independent league in the U.S. “I heard that he wants to continue his career, and he has been talking to the Japanese baseball world about it, but no team is interested in acquiring him. However, it is doubtful that any team would be interested in acquiring him. Yang has a lot of pride as a Taiwanese star, and it is difficult for teams to deal with him. It would be realistic for him to return to Taiwan and continue playing, but considering his age, his success is unknown. ……
Yang was not selected to represent Taiwan in the WBC held in March this year. He will continue his desperate appeal from the U.S. Independent League.
PHOTO: Kyodo News