close
這篇是倪福德所屬球隊Toledo Mud Hens當地媒體，所刊載的倪福德專訪
裡面報導倪福德來到美國打球後的心得，以及球團對他的期待
這應該是倪福德到3A後，相關報導中最完整的一篇
將它翻成中文，與大家分享
（有些文句或許翻的不好，請大家見諒）
底特律球團對倪福德的高度期許
(2009.5.15 於Toledo FreePress刊載)
倪福德正在突破障礙。
這名Mud Hens隊的後援左投是第一位打過中華職棒後，與大聯盟球團簽約的台灣球員。
倪福德出生台灣屏東縣，講中文。根據倪福德的翻譯Fox說法，其他來自台灣的（旅美）球
員都已具備職業水準，但他們沒有人曾在台灣（職棒）打過球。
「我不覺得這是種責任，」倪福德透過翻譯轉述，「我肩上沒有感受到壓力，但我覺得如果
我成功了，這將替其他球員打開大門。」
倪福德表示，他相信更多正在台灣打球，或將在台灣打球的球員，能夠有機會在美國成名。
倪福德去年隸屬中華職棒中信鯨隊，戰績5勝12敗，防禦率3.34，132次奪三振居聯盟第一。
他也是台灣2008奧運代表隊成員，並面對加拿大隊拿下勝投，幫助球隊獲得第五名。他也代
表台灣參加2007年世界杯和最近舉行的世界棒球經典賽，並在東京巨蛋外乘坐生平第一次雲
霄飛車。
底特律老虎隊總裁、執行長兼球團經理Dave Dombrowski，對由國際球探部主任Tom Moore
所負責的國際事務運作，並找到倪福德感到滿意。而且Dombrowski還說球團對他的評價很
高。
「我們很喜歡他，他是那種我們認為有機會登上大聯盟的選手。」Dombrowski說，「我們把
他視為大聯盟級的後援投手，我們真的認為他是那種在有（危機）狀況時，能夠有機會守住
城池的大聯盟級牛棚投手。」
Mud Hens隊總教練Larry Parrish說，擁有像倪福德這樣的球員是種挑戰，但對球隊而言這並
不是問題。
Parrish說，「遇到一些挑戰，倪福德在這裡可以靠翻譯去學習一些，而我們的人也可以學習
一些。」
無論是和隊友打乒乓球，或一起看電影「即刻救援」（Taken），倪福德都特別享受在賽前
的時間，並且得到放鬆。
他說，「這是最棒的部份，可以和我的隊友互動。」
另一個倪福德要面對的挑戰，或者說是要適應的地方，就是他說「在美國的比賽更加密集。
」在台灣，他每週只比賽3到5場；在這裡，一個月能夠休兵1到2天已經算是很幸運的了。
倪福德說，他從11歲開始打棒球，那時是他的父母誘騙他去打的。他並沒有進一步說明，只
是不斷的笑。
過去就讀屏東高中和嘉義大學的倪福德，Parrish說Mud Hens隊已持續培養他，「我們設定
他長中繼左投，他每場比賽可投2局。他擁有一定水準的快速球和變速球，而他的變化球可
能是他最不穩定的球種，有點無法掌握（comes and goes）。」
倪福德在大學以前，一直都是先發投手，這也是他可以投較多局數的可能原因。
Dombrowski並不想為倪福德登上大聯盟設時間表。
「我想那算是在照顧他們，」Dombrowski說，「有時候你有需要.... 有時候那些球員會迫使
你去做。」
「當我們簽下他時，我們就認為他是可以（上大聯盟）的，但時候還沒有到。」
倪福德的加入，使他與1A球隊West Michigan Whitecaps的外野手唐肇廷，成為底特律球團
唯二的台灣球員。
「我將會為上大聯盟投球而高興，」倪福德說，「那是世界棒球的最高殿堂。」
Hens, Tigers set high hopes for Taiwanese player
Written by Nicholas Huenefeld
Publisked by Toledo FreePress on May 15, 2009
Fu-Te Ni (FOO-TAY KNEE) is breaking barriers.
The lefty reliever for the Mud Hens is the first Taiwanese player to sign a professional contract with
Major League Baseball after playing in the China Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
Ni was born in Pingtung County, Taiwan, and speaks Mandarin Chinese. According to Ni’s interpreter,
“Fox,” other players from Taiwan have played professionally, but they never played in Taiwan, too.
“I don’t feel a responsibility,” Ni said through his interpreter. “I don’t feel pressure on my shoulders,
but I feel that if I am successful, it will open doors for others.”
Ni said he believes more players who are playing in Taiwan, or will play in Taiwan, could have the
chance to make a name for themselves in America.
Ni spent last year with the China Trust Whales in the CPBL, where he went 5-12 with a 3.34 ERA.
He led the league in strikeouts with 132. He also pitched for Taiwan in the 2008 Olympics, where he
earned a win against Team Canada — earning Taiwan fifth place. He also joined Taiwan’s national
team just prior to the 2007 Baseball World Cup and pitched for Taiwan in the recent World Baseball
Classic — where he rode his first roller coaster just outside of the Tokyo Dome.
Dave Dombrowski, the president, CEO and general manager of the Detroit Tigers, credits Detroit’s
international operation, led by Tom Moore, the organization’s director of international scouting, for
finding Ni. In addition, Dombrowski said the organization is high on him.
“We like him. He’s a guy we think has a chance to pitch in the big leagues,” Dombrowski said. “We
look at him as a reliever [at the big league level]. He’s in the type of situation that we really think
he’s got a chance to be a solid bullpen guy at the big-league level."
Having a player, such as Ni can be challenging, but it’s nothing the team can’t work with, according
to Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish.
“There’s some [challenges],” Parrish said. “He’s got his interpreter here and he’s picking up things
as he goes and some of our guys are picking up some things."
Ni especially enjoys the time before games, whether it be playing pingpong or watching “Taken”
with his teammates and just relaxing.
“That’s the best part — interacting with my teammates,” he said.
One challenge, or adjustment, Ni is making is that he said “the games are tighter in the U.S.” In
Taiwan, he played only three to five games per week. Here, he’s lucky to get one to two days off per
month.
Ni said he began playing baseball at age 11 when his parents lied and tricked him into playing. He
would not give a further explanation; he just laughed.
Parrish said the Mud Hens have been developing Ni, who attended Pingtung Senior High School
and the University of Chiayi. “We’ve been using him as a long lefty. He can throw a couple innings
at a time. He’s got an average fastball, an average changeup. His breaking ball is probably his most
inconsistent pitch — it sort of comes and goes.”
Ni used to be a starter until he reached college — a likely reason he can throw multiple innings.
Dombrowski doesn’t want to set a timeframe on Ni as far as advancing to the parent club.
“I think those kind of things kind of take care of themselves,” Dombrowski said. “Sometimes you
have needs … sometimes the guy forces their way on you.
“When we signed him, we thought he could compete, but wasn’t quite ready.”
Ni joins Chao-Ting Tang, an outfielder for the West Michigan Whitecaps — Detroit’s Single-A team,
as the two players from Taiwan in Detroit’s system.
“I would be glad to pitch in the majors,” Ni said. “It is the highest level in the baseball world.”
網址：http://www.toledofreepress.com/2009/05/15/hens-tigers-set-high-hopes-for-taiwanese-player/
全站熱搜
留言列表
