Yanks 1st choice: Wang

“I will try my best to secure a return to Major League Baseball (MLB), and my first choice would be the Yankees though it would be okay for me to pitch for any other MLB team,” said Wang at a press conference following his arrival at the Taoyuan International Airport with his wife and newborn son.

Wang, whose contract with the Yankees expires this year, is expected to become a free agent next season should the Yankees choose not to renew his contract.

Asked about his possible moves, Wang said he is open to all possible options without naming any particular U.S. pro baseball teams.

Concerning whether he could transfer to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wang said “it's would not be a bad idea” since he and the incumbent Dodgers manager Joe Torre had a very good working relationship when they were in the Yankees.

Wang added that he appreciated Torre for taking good care of him for many years before the manager moved to Los Angeles.

“I have been recovering and rehabilitating better than expected from my shoulder surgery, and will begin practicing throwing on Dec. 1,” Wang said.

When questioned for his thoughts on the recently uncovered game-fixing scam involving local professional baseball, Wang said it was regretful “this kind of most undesirable event had happened.”

Prosecutors have so far implicated around 20 players in three of Taiwan's four pro baseball teams for throwing games in collaboration with a gambling syndicate.

Wang returned to his hometown Tainan in southern Taiwan later in the day for a reunion with his parents. He is scheduled to be back in the U.S. by year-end.

Wang rose through the New York Yankees' minor league system after a brilliant performance in Taiwan's baseball league. In 2005, he was called up from the Yankees' AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, starting an outstanding career in the MLB.

In 2006, Wang won 19 games (tied for the most in the majors along with Johan Santana), and posted a 3.63 ERA (earned run average), at the end of the season. Wang finished second to Johan Santana in voting for the Cy Young award, the most prestigious title for the MLB pitchers.

He again recorded 19 wins in 2007 despite starting the season on the disabled list and returning on April 24 that year.

In 2008, Wang was prevented from finishing the season due to a right foot injury he suffered in an inter-league game against the Houston Astros, though he did quite well by finishing in April with a 5-0 record.

Wang struggled in 2009 as a result of his right shoulder injury, and ended the season prematurely after undergoing a surgery on July 30.

But Wang became the first Taiwan player to ever win the championship ring as a member of the Yankees after the team took the World Series in October.

Wang said his top priority for now is to maintain a rigorous rehab schedule to strengthen the muscles and strength of his lower body in order to get ready for the upcoming challenges.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email