Fu-Te Ni (born 14 November 1982), nicknamed " Tudigong", is a former Taiwanese professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

, who is currently the pitching coach for ANYO Fresh, an amateur team in Taiwan. He played in the

Chinese Professional Baseball League The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL; ) is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989 and played the first season in 1990. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 20 ...

(CPBL) for the Chinatrust Brothers, EDA Rhinos/Fubon Guardians, and CTBC Brothers, and in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

. Drafted by the Whales, Ni played the 2007 and 2008 seasons until the team was disbanded on November 11, 2008. He signed a minor league contract with the Tigers in 2009. Ni was called up to the Major Leagues in June 2009, becoming the sixth Taiwanese player to enter Major League Baseball. He is also the first player to transition from the CPBL to MLB. Ni made his major league debut on June 29, 2009, against the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

Playing career

Chinatrust Whales

Ni was drafted by the CPBL team Chinatrust Whales in 2005. He signed with the team in early 2007 and played for the entire CPBL 2007 and 2008 seasons. In the two years Ni had a 12–24 record with seven holds, four saves and a 3.43 ERA in inning pitched. Ni won the CPBL strikeout Champion Award in 2008 season with 132

strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...

Detroit Tigers

Ni signed as a free agent with the

on January 13, 2009. He was assigned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens of the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...

. In 24 games with the Mud Hens, Ni went 3–0 with a 2.60 ERA, and 32 strikeouts. Ni was called up on June 28, 2009, to replace the injured Nate Robertson. Ni is the sixth Taiwanese player to enter Major League Baseball, and the fourth pitcher. He made his debut on June 29, 2009, against the

, allowing one run in innings with 3 strikeouts. The first major league batter he faced was slugger Jason Giambi, and Ni struck him out. Ni pitched 36 games with the Tigers in 2009 and compiled no wins or losses with a 2.61 ERA and 21 strikeouts. After accumulating a 6.65 ERA in 2010, Ni was optioned to the back to the Mud Hens on June 30, 2010. In February 2011 the Tigers listed him as a non-roster invitee to spring training camp. On March 22, he was assigned to the Mud Hens. He was 6–3 with a 3.24 ERA in 34 games (including 12 starts). Ni was released by the Tigers on August 7, 2012, after he was 2–2 with a 4.56 ERA in 7 games (5 starts) during the 2012 season.

Los Angeles Dodgers

After not playing during the 2013 season, Ni was signed by the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

to a minor league contract on December 13, 2013. However, he was released prior to the start of the season on March 31, 2014.

Lancaster Barnstormers

On April 30, 2014, Ni signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, and the headquarters are l ...

. In 24 games for Lancaster, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 6.14 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 22 innings of relief.

Camden Riversharks

On July 10, 2014, Ni was traded to the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League. In 11 starts for Camden, he logged a 2-5 record and 4.72 ERA with 58 strikeouts across 61 innings pitched. Ni was released by the Riversharks on September 8. On January 28, 2015, Ni re-signed with the Riversharks. In 7 starts for Camden, he posted a 2-1 record and 3.38 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 40 innings of work. Ni was released by the team on May 31.

Fubon Guardians

On June 30, 2015, Ni signed with the

Fubon Guardians The Fubon Guardians () are a professional baseball team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan. The team is owned by Fubon Financial Holding Co. and play their home games at Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei City. ...

of the CPBL. After the 2020 season, he elected free agency.

CTBC Brothers

Ni signed a one month contract with the CTBC Brothers of the

for the 2021 season. After failing to secure a contract extension, Ni left the team without playing in a game on May 24, 2021.

International career

Ni selected Chinese Taipei national baseball team at the 2008 Olympics,

2009 World Baseball Classic The 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an International Baseball Federation, international baseball competition. It began on March 5 and finished March 23. Unlike in 2006 World Baseball Classic, 2006, when the Round-robin tournament, round- ...

, 2013 exhibition games against

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, 2015 WBSC Premier12, 2016 exhibition game against Japan and 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Coaching career

Ni became the pitching coach for the amateur Popcorn League team ANYO Fresh on November 11, 2021.

References

External links

, or Fu-Te Ni's onlin
Album
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ni, Fu-Te 1982 births Living people Adelaide Bite players Baseball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Camden Riversharks players Chinatrust Whales players Detroit Tigers players EDA Rhinos players Fubon Guardians players Lancaster Barnstormers players Leones del Caracas players Expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Taiwan Olympic baseball players for Taiwan Sportspeople from Pingtung County Taiwanese expatriate baseball players in the United States Toledo Mud Hens players 2009 World Baseball Classic players 2015 WBSC Premier12 players 2017 World Baseball Classic players Taiwanese expatriate baseball players in Australia