By Sean McAdam
CSSNE.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox spent the bulk of their offseason preaching
the importance of run prevention and stockpiling free agents whom they
believed could help improve the team's defense.
They spent a combined million for three players -- Marco Scutaro, Mike
Cameron and Adrian Beltre -- who could bolster the team's play in the field
in the short term.
As for the long term, the Red Sox best investment may have been the 0,000
they handed to an 18-year-old outfielder halfway around the world three years
ago.
Taiwan native Che-Hsuan Lin likely won't play above Double A this year. But
in, say, two years, the Sox may be choosing between Ryan Westmoreland and Lin
as their center fielder of the future.
"He's extremely athletic," Red Sox director of player development Mike Hazen
said of Lin. "He has power, is an elite defender, can run, and controls the
strike zone. There's a lot to like."
The Sox have quietly assembled a bunch of terrific athletes who can play in
the middle of the field -- shortstops Jose Iglesias, Derrik Gibson and
Yamaico Navarro, along with Westmoreland and Lin in center. Among the
outfielders at least, Hazen labels Lin as "the best defender in the group."
When the Red Sox begin their spring schedule Wednesday afternoon with a game
against Northeastern University, Lin will be in center field, giving the Sox
an opportunity to get a better measure of the progress he's made.
"The instincts and the jumps in the outfield go beyond his raw speed," said
Hazen. "I mean, he's off and running when that ball's hit. I think when you
watch these games, he'll probably have a chance to make a coupe of
circus-style catches and show you what we're talking about."
While he's still in camp. Lin hopes to mostly watch and learn from
established outfielders such as Cameron and J.D. Drew.
"Watching how those guys prepare to play is something he hasn't seen
up-close," said Hazen. "That's probably the best experience he'll get out of
camp -- watching those guys prepare, watching them without the ball, all the
little things they do to get ready every day. With these younger players,
there are no expectations [from the organization] from their first camp.
Really, we just want him to absorb, rather than worry about what he can show
us."
For now, the emphasis is on Lin's smooth, gliding style in the outfield and
the ease with which he tracks down balls. But that not to suggest Lin is a
good-glove, no-hit prospect. Last season at Salem (High A) of the Carolina
League, Lin hit .264 with 7 homers and 54 RBI in 131 games with a .355
on-base percentage to go with 26 stolen bases.
The year before, he was chosen to take part in the Futures Game -- a showcase
of minor-leaguers held two days before the All-Star game - and was named MVP
of the contest. That same year, he was named the organization's top
defensive player and last year, was named to the Carolina League All-Star
team.
Unlike many top-level prospects who confuse offensive success with
over-aggressiveness at the plate, Lin already has shown discipline as a
hitter. Last year at Salem, he walked (67 times) nearly as much as he struck
out (75 times) -- a rare achievement for a 20-year old. The ability to
control the strike zone is a strong foundation upon which to build; at the
very least, Lin has not been making the pitchers' job any easier by swinging
at bad pitches.
His power, while now slight, will improve, the Sox believe, as he strengthens
and fills out his upper body.
Lin, speaking with the help of an interpreter, has tried not to put pressure
on himself this spring.
"It's time to get ready for the season and help the team," he said. "The
atmosphere in the clubhouse has been great and I've learned a lot of little
things from the players. I'm trying to watch and not think too much."
Lin is part of a group of elite outfield prospects competing for future
playing time in the Boston outfield. Josh Reddick filled in when injuries
struck over the second half of last season and Ryan Kalish seems positioned
to do the same this year should the need arise.
Further down the chain, there's Lin and Westmoreland, the No. 1 Red Sox
prospect according to Baseball America, and last year's top pick out of
Puerto Rico, Reymond Fuentes.
"It's not like the cupbard is bare," acknowledged Hazen, "where he's going to
move as fast as he pushes. But there's not a major-league urgency for this
year, I don't think."
Part of Lin's progress must be measured off the field, where his grasp of
English is slowly improving and his assimilation to life in America continues.
"I love to learn," he said.
Though his communication is hesitant, he's popular with his minor-league
teammates.
As he has shown already at the plate, Lin is trying to be patient. But he
dreams of the day when he can follow countryman like Chien-Ming Wang and
Fu-Te Ni of the Detroit Tigers to the big leagues.
"Those are my role models," he said."If I can get to the big leagues and help
the team win, I could be a model for kids now in Taiwan playing in baseball.
That would be my dream."
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