Normally, by the time an Asian player reaches the States he is usually a player who was passed over by his own professional leagues so he is a project to groom into a major leaguer, or he is a veteran of the NPB and is too old to be really considered a prospect, though he is still a rookie. The major leagues don't wish to alienate the other professional Asian leagues, so they walk on egg shells to make sure they do not ruffle any feathers. The Red Sox signing of Junichi Tazawa is an exception to that rule, though Tazawa was pitching in the industrial leagues and had not been signed by a Japanese professional team. He convinced the Japanese professional teams not to draft him and thus made himself eligible for the major leagues as a coveted free agent. Below is a list of the Asian prospects that are toiling in the major's minor leagues. 1. Che-Hsuan Lin, Red Sox (Taiwan) OF - The tools appear to be all there to be a five tool player. He is one of the better defensive centerfielders in the minor leagues with an arm that is above average and suitable for right field. In batting practice he hits for power, though that has yet to translate into homeruns in the games that count. He hit .249 for Low A Greenville, slugging .359 and sending five balls over the fence. In the Olympics he was tied with Red Sox teammate Chih-Hsien Change for the team lead in RBIs with four. 2. Dae-Eun Rhee, Chicago Cubs (Korea), RHP - The Cubs do an excellent job mining players out of Korea and Rhee is one of the better ones. Rhee has been troubled by elbow problems, which could be attributed to his overuse in Korea. As a result of Tommy John surgery, he will not be able to pitch until mid season 2009. When healthy his fastball can pop up to 94 but is more comfortable and consistent between 90-92. His curveball is a solid average pitch and his change is one of the best in the system. 3. Junichi Tazawa, Red Sox (Japan), RHP - He pitched in the Industrial League leading his team to a championship win. Major League teams found an exception to signing talented Japanese dealers. The Japanese Industrial Leagues are not the NPB so it is not difficult for a 22 year old pitcher to find success at the lower levels. His fastball dials into the low 90s but he can locate it well. He is not tall, 6'1 but he has broad shoulders that generates the heat. He complemnts the fastball with a slider and curve. 4. Ni-Fu Te, Detroit Tigers (Taiwan), LHP - He is the first player from the CBPL to jump ship and sign with a major league team. He became available because the China Trust Whales team was disbanded as a result of a gambling scandal. He is not very tall at 6 foot but he can dial his fastball up to the low 90s but is more comfortable staying around the high 80s. For a lefthander he can survive with that kind of velocity. He also has a slider, curve, changeup and forkball. 5. Hak-Ju Lee, Chicago Cubs (Korea) SS - Lee was a 2008 signing for $725,000 but before he could play any games he injured his elbow and had to have Tommy John surgery. This seems to be a pretty common occurrence for Asian players. When healthy he has excellent speed, which could result in a number of stolen bases, has a lefthanded bat that sprays the ball to all fields and has the range and arm to stick at shortstop. First, he must recover from the injury. 6. Chia-Jen Lo, Houston Astros (Taiwan) RHP - Lo has a 4-pitch arsenal that includes a fastball in the low 90s, splitter, slider and change. Only his fastball at this point is an above average pitch, but his other pitches have potential. He also pitched for the national team that was a major disappointment, getting beaten by China. 7. Su-Min Jung, Chicago Cubs (Korea) RHP - Jung wasn't much of a pitcher early in the 2008 season, but his fastball kept gaining velocity until it was hitting the low 90s late in the season. At 6'2" and 190 he has a more room to gain strength and add velocity to the fastball. He also has an above average curveball and the makings of a changeup. 8. Chih-Hsien Chiang, Boston Red Sox (Taiwan) 2B - The Red Sox signed him in 2005 and he tied teammate Lin for the RBI lead in the disappointing Olympics. He hit a solid .303 with a .459 slugging. He's got good speed and pop in his bat so he just needs exposure to major league pitching to enhance his game. To date, his speed has not translated to stolen bases. 9. Chen-Chang Lee, Cleveland Indians (Taiwan) RHP - For as poorly as they played in the Olympics, a number of players from that team were signed to minor league contracts. Lee is another one who made two appearances in the Olympics, finishing 0-1, with a 2.00 ERA and 11 K's. He made a name for himself at the 2006 world university championships holding Cuba to two hits over eight innings. He stands only 5'7" and slings it from the side, mixing a fastball with a slider, split finger and sinker. Despite his stature his fastball has been clocked as high as 94. 10. Seng-Wei Tseng, Cleveland Indians (Taiwan), RHP - Tseng was signed in 2006. His fastball has good velocity, ticking in the 94 mile per hour range, but settling more comfortably in the low 90s. Like many Asian pitchers he throws multiple pitches that include a slider, changeup and split finger fastball. His fastball right now that is the only pitch that is above average. http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?p=1049 --

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