Top Draft Pick Chen Hu Surges in Bullpen, Sets New Save Record

Chen Hu, the highly anticipated first-round draft pick for the CTBC Brothers, is experiencing a career resurgence after his recent promotion to the team's bullpen. Since joining the winning group on June 21, Hu has delivered a series of dominant performances, securing three consecutive saves and setting a new personal record for saves in a single season.

Drafted by the Brothers in 2016, Hu has faced challenges in establishing himself in the bullpen's upper echelons. However, this season, under the guidance of manager Eiji Kinoshita, Hu has seized the opportunity. He showcased his improved form with a dominant outing against the Uni-President Lions on June 21, striking out two batters in a single inning. He followed this with another flawless performance against the Fubon Guardians on June 23, again retiring all batters faced.

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He has grasped the opportunity after being promoted to the winning group.

In his most recent appearance on June 26, Hu entered the game in the eighth inning. Despite allowing a hit to Wu Nien-ting, he quickly recovered, inducing a double play from Blue Yin-lun to escape the jam. Across these three consecutive appearances, Hu has consistently needed fewer than 12 pitches to record three saves, a remarkable display of efficiency. This streak surpasses his previous season-high of two saves in both 2023 and 2024.

Furthermore, Hu's velocity has seen a notable increase. His four-seam fastball now averages 147 kph (approximately 91.3 mph), a significant jump from last year's average of 143 kph (approximately 88.9 mph). This boost in speed, coupled with his recent success, suggests that Hu is regaining the form that made him a top prospect in the 2016 draft.

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His four-seam fastball average speed has reached a new high this year, significantly faster than last year's 143 kilometers per hour.