Baseball Draft: Former Teammates Liao Yong-quan, Wang Nien-hao Discuss Top Pick Potential

Liao Yong-quan, a standout college baseball player who excels as both a pitcher and outfielder, is generating significant buzz ahead of the upcoming draft. His former high school teammate and a previous top draft pick, Wang Nien-hao, believes Liao has the potential to be the No. 1 selection.

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Looking at this year's draft, I think Liao Yong-quan has the ability to become the top pick.

Liao, who was an outfielder in high school, added pitching to his repertoire in college. He has since shown impressive development, hitting .417 with 8 home runs in collegiate play and clocking fastballs up to 153 kph. This dual threat capability makes him a rare talent in the college baseball scene.

Wang recalls Liao's natural talent for throwing even in high school, expressing little surprise at his transition to pitching. He notes Liao's excellent athletic ability and quick feet, comparing his offensive potential to that of a player like Song Cheng-rui of the CTBC Brothers.

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He has good hitting power and is very fast on the bases. His power is also very good, and he hit several home runs in college. Overall, he's a bit like CTBC Brothers outfielder Song Cheng-rui.

Despite his offensive prowess, the team's manager, Yeh Chun-chang, indicated a focus on developing Liao's pitching skills. While acknowledging Liao's natural hitting talent, the manager stated that pitching requires more cultivation. The team has a plan to nurture him as a two-way player, with a greater emphasis on pitching training.

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Hitters need talent, pitchers need cultivation. Liao Yong-quan's hitting has some talent, so he needs to be a two-way player. Pitching training will be more intensive, not hitting. We have such a plan (two-way player development).