| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | 2.79 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 116 | 123 | 1.04 |
| Career Minors | 10 | 8 | 3.20 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 132.1 | 144 | 1.14 |
| G | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 | 10-5 | 2.79 | 116 | 123 | 1.04 |
| Career Minors | 28 | 10-8 | 3.20 | 132.1 | 144 | 1.14 |
| Season | Tm | LG | L | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 Teams | Minors | 0 | 3 | 6.06 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 16.1 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 12 | 21 | 1.84 | |
| 2023 | FCL Cardinals | FCL | ROK | 0 | 0 | 1.93 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1.29 |
| 2023 | Palm Beach Cardinals | FSL | A | 0 | 3 | 7.71 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 11.2 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 17 | 2.06 |
| 2024 | Palm Beach Cardinals | FSL | A | 10 | 5 | 2.79 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 116.0 | 85 | 41 | 36 | 3 | 36 | 123 | 1.04 |
| FCL Cardinals | FCL | ROK | 0 | 0 | 1.93 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1.29 | |
| Palm Beach Cardinals | FSL | A | 10 | 8 | 3.24 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 127.2 | 98 | 51 | 46 | 5 | 47 | 140 | 1.14 | |
| Career Minors | 2 Teams | 10 | 8 | 3.20 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 132.1 | 103 | 52 | 47 | 5 | 48 | 144 | 1.14 |
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
A native of Taiwan, Lin pitched stateside in the 2022 Northwoods League and 2023 MLB Draft League, where he showed flashes of brilliant stuff with really rough control. But after posting the Draft League’s best fastball velocity, the right-hander signed with the Cardinals for $500,000 in July 2023, thus becoming St. Louis’ first player signed out of Taiwan. He opened his first full season at Single-A Palm Beach and dominated the Florida State League with a 2.79 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 116 innings.
Lin was the only Palm Beach pitcher to exceed 100 mph in 2024, and he did it 12 times and touched 101 on May 25. He typically stayed more in the 95-98 mph range with his four-seamer, and while the heater had ample armside run, it didn’t come with great ride, causing it to play below the velo. His 86-89 mph changeup was a much better whiff-heavy pitch with 50.8 percent of swings coming up empty against it. The separation off the fastball and similar horizontal movement befuddled many hitters. Lin could also work in a mid-80s slider, but without high spin rates, it will likely be less effective higher up the chain. None of Lin’s pitches averaged gloveside break in the FSL, and that will be a focus entering year two.
For a pitcher who once walked 24 batters in 15 2/3 innings in the Northwoods League, Lin showed a spectacular turnaround when it came to control in the FSL with just a 7.8 percent BB rate. That will be challenged against more patient hitters at High-A and above, but entering his age-23 season, Lin is more raw than many arms his age and could continue to hone his sharpness on the mound.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Lin pitched for Chinese Culture University in Taipei before heading to the Northwoods League in 2022. He walked 24 batters in 15 2/3 innings there but still earned an opportunity in the MLB Draft League the following summer, where he posted more promising numbers (3.24 ERA, 15 K, 10 BB in 16 2/3 IP) and had the showcase circuit’s best fastball velocity. The Cardinals signed him for $500,000 on July 3, making him the organization’s first player signed out of Taipei in its history. Lin has opened the 2024 campaign with promising results at Single-A Palm Beach.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Lin is certainly a presence on the mound, albeit a rather skinny one. He’s averaged 96.6 mph on his four-seamer through his first five Florida State League starts, and it has a ton of arm-side run too with 16.4 inches of horizontal movement. Lin leans on the heater a lot as he gets his career going, but his upper-80s changeup shows some promise with similar arm-side movement and enough separation to generate a whiff rate above 40 percent. It gives him a weapon against lefties and has helped ward off splits issues. The righty is also working on a mid-80s slider that stands out more for its vertical drop.
Lin’s control was a major question mark during his two campaigns in summer collegiate ball, but he’s been better at throwing strikes so far on the pro side. Because he only measures in at a reported 188 pounds right now, there is some projectability remaining even at 22 years old. He has the raw materials to be a fun project for St. Louis, and the early returns are promising for his starting chances.
| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
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| Month | Team |
|---|---|
| 08/2024 |
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| Week | Team |
|---|---|
| 08/04/2024 |
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| Team | Date | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
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08/12/2023 | RHP Chen-Wei Lin assigned to Palm Beach Cardinals from FCL Cardinals. |
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07/25/2023 | |
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07/25/2023 | FCL Cardinals activated RHP Chen-Wei Lin from the temporarily inactive list. |
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07/18/2023 | RHP Chen-Wei Lin assigned to FCL Cardinals from DSL Cardinals. |
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07/17/2023 | DSL Cardinals activated RHP Chen-Wei Lin from the restricted list. |
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07/03/2023 | St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent RHP Chen-Wei Lin to a minor league contract. |
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07/03/2023 | RHP Chen-Wei Lin assigned to DSL Cardinals from DSL Cardinals. |
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05/31/2023 | Frederick Keys activated RHP Chan-Wei Lin. |
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05/31/2023 | Frederick Keys activated RHP Chen-Wei Lin. |
