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Lee Chen-ch'ang (Chinese: 李振昌; pinyin: Lǐ Zhènchāng; Wade–Giles: Li³ Chen⁴-Ch'ang¹; born 21 October 1986) is a Taiwanese professional baseball relief pitcher for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions. Lee throws from a sidearm slot, and his fastball sits at 92–94 MPH and max out at 97 MPH.[1]
| C. C. Lee | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lee pitching for the Cleveland Indians in 2013 | |
| CTBC Brothers – No. 34 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: 21 October 1986 Penghu, Taiwan | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: July 14, 2013, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| NPB: March 26, 2016, for the Saitama Seibu Lions | |
| CPBL: July 25, 2018, for the Chinatrust Brothers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2015 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 1–1 |
| Earned run average | 4.50 |
| Strikeouts | 33 |
| NPB statistics (through 2016 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 6.48 |
| Strikeouts | 13 |
| CPBL statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 15-10 |
| Earned run average | 2.95 |
| Strikeouts | 300 |
| Saves | 81 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Medals | |
| C. C. Lee | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 李振昌 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 李振昌 | ||||||||||||||
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Cleveland Indians
Lee began playing baseball while a student at National Pingtung Senior High School.[2] He competed for the Chinese Taipei national baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics, and had a 2.00 earned run average (ERA) and 11 strikeouts in two appearances. After appearing in the Olympics, the Cleveland Indians signed him as a free agent.[3]
After joining the Indians organization, Lee competed in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.[4] He began his stateside professional career with the Kinston Indians in 2009, finishing the year with a 4–6 win–loss record and a 3.35 ERA in 45 appearances. He spent 2010 with the Akron Aeros, and had a 4–5 record and a 3.22 ERA in 44 games. The following year, Lee split the season between the Aeros and Columbus Clippers. With the Clippers, he had a 4–0 record and a 2.21 ERA in 25 appearances.[5]
After five games with the Clippers in 2012 and 19 in 2013, Lee was called up by the Cleveland Indians from their Triple-A affiliate Columbus Clippers on July 12, 2013, and became the tenth Taiwanese player to play in the MLB.[6] In his debut on July 14, Lee pitched 1.1 innings in relief of Ubaldo Jiménez, allowing no hits and 1 walk. He was optioned back to Columbus on July 23 and finished the season there, ending it with a 2.37 ERA.[5] Lee started the 2014 season in Columbus, but was brought up to the majors and had several stints with the Indians during the 2014 season.[7]
Saitama Seibu Lions
On November 20, 2015, the Indians sold Lee's contract to the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball.[8]
On November 8, 2016, he became a free agent.[9]
Colorado Rockies
On December 23, 2016, Lee signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies, that included an invitation to 2017 spring training.[10] In 27 appearances for the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes, Lee registered a 5.54 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 37+1⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.[11]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 1, 2018, Lee signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. In 22 appearances for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, Lee pitched for a 3.91 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 25+1⁄3 innings pitched. On June 1, Lee exercised an opt-out clause in his contract in order to return to his home country of Taiwan and declare himself eligible for the 2018 Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) draft.[12]
Chinatrust / CTBC Brothers
Lee was selected first overall in the 2018 CPBL draft by the CTBC Brothers, and on July 10, 2018, signed to a 3.5 year deal with an annual salary of $248,000 USD plus $34,000 USD per season in incentives.[13]
On May 3, 2023, Lee suffered a broken collarbone after being involved in a traffic collision, and later underwent successful surgery.[14] He only made 11 appearances on the year, and struggled to a 6.75 ERA over 8 innings. Lee made 42 appearances out of the bullpen for the Brothers in 2024, compiling a 3–1 record and 4.70 ERA with 27 strikeouts across 38+1⁄3 innings pitched. With the Brothers, Lee won the 2024 Taiwan Series.[15]
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He was selected for Chinese Taipei national baseball team at the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, 2006 Asian Games, 2008 Summer Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
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