CPBL: Rookie catcher Lu Po-hua gets surprise starting nod in Fubon Guardians debut

Fubon Guardians rookie catcher Lu Po-hua experienced a whirlwind professional debut, being called up to the top team and immediately thrust into the starting lineup. The 21-year-old was tasked with catching foreign pitcher Abe Yudai in a game against the CTBC Brothers.

Despite the Guardians ultimately losing the game, manager Gotoh Mitsutaka expressed satisfaction with Lu's performance. "He performed quite well," Gotoh stated. Lu himself admitted to being surprised by the immediate starting assignment. "I thought I would just observe the pace of the top league on my first day," Lu said. "After greeting the coach, he told me I was starting today. I was quite surprised."

Lu revealed that he had done his homework on the opposing CTBC Brothers hitters the previous day, reviewing scouting reports and understanding how they might perform against left-handed pitching. "The scouting department provided information, and I briefly studied the situations for over 10 players facing a left-handed pitcher," Lu explained. "We also have pre-game meetings, and I just followed the plan."

Manager Gotoh also noted that Lu had to leave the game early due to cramping. Lu attributed this to pre-game nervousness and inadequate hydration. "I was very nervous before the game and didn't hydrate properly," he said. "I started cramping around the third inning."