East Windup Chronicle: Gold Rush for Taiwanese Talent Fuels Rivalry

And Aaron adds..."My colleague Jackson did a pretty interesting article about the scouting world in Taiwan and how it’s become so much more competitive (he calls it a gold rush) because of the success of Wang, and to a lesser extent Tsao and Kuo. He’s got an interview with the Mariners scout, whose one of the better scouts over here in Asia.”

The salad days of the late 90s appear to be over, however, forcing MLB scouts residing in Taiwan to dig deeper and become more resourceful in their search for prospects.

In certain instances, unfortunately, this has meant stretching the boundaries of acceptable protocol in order to remain competitive and ensure their prospects aren’t snatched up by other clubs.

Rumors of illegal signings, teams hiding players and hidden contracts abound, as well as whispers of a maze of secret arrangements between scouts and agents that further alter the landscape of negotiations and player signings.

To make matters more complicated, some scouts in Taiwan lament certain coaches’ overuse of pitchers, citing an increased risk of injury to their coveted prospects before they can make the jump overseas.

Despite these hurdles and strategic advantages held by Japanese clubs, Taiwan is still viewed as a top target for MLB scouting departments because of the high level of play and organization, and the passion for the game found among players, fans and coaches.