19-year-old Sha Tzu-chen signs with Oakland Athletics

19-year-old Sha Tzu-chen signs with Oakland Athletics

2023-02-15

If you want to become an internationally recognized baseball player, you have to start young with professional training. Maybe learning to pitch and bat as soon as you can walk, right? Well, not necessarily. In fact, a young pitcher aged just 19 years old has just signed with a baseball team in the U.S., having only started competitive baseball training in his first year of high school. It’s pitcher Sha Tzu-chen, who was signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics for US$425,000. Let’s hear from him.

Sha Tzu-chen
Pitcher
When I started playing baseball, I wouldn’t even dare think of playing in the U.S. If I had said anything like that back then, people would’ve laughed at me, because I wasn’t good enough. Getting this opportunity to put my skills to the test in the U.S. is unbelievable. But I know very well that this is just a ticket to my dream. There’s still training and more goals to achieve. I’ll keep working hard.

Adam Hislop
Oakland Athletics international scout
My first impression was that his physique and coordination were great. But I noticed that his pitches were not too fast. After two or three years watching him, I noticed he had been constantly improving, all the way until now.

Before getting competitive training, Sha had played for leisure with a local baseball team. Back in middle school, he threw balls at just 123 kilometers per hour. But after graduating from high school, the speeds shot up to 147. It’s thanks to his constant improvement and determination that the scout took notice of him, allowing him to start a new chapter in life.

高一才接受正規棒球訓練 19歲沙子宸加盟奧克蘭運動家

2023-02-15

高一才接受正規棒球訓練，也能進職棒、甚至旅外嗎？國立體大投手沙子宸就是個例子。19歲的沙子宸，從小打的是爸爸成立的社區棒球隊"TYSA運動家"，如今以總值42.5萬美元的合約，加盟美職奧克蘭運動家，直說自己也覺得不可思議。

[[奧克蘭運動家投手沙子宸]]
“本來打棒球的時候，完全不敢想旅美這件事情，那時候的實力講出去可能會被人家笑，因為實力還不夠，那今天真的有機會挑戰旅美這一塊，我就覺得已經很不可思議了，但是我滿清楚知道，這只是一張夢想的門票而已，後面的訓練跟目標，我會繼續努力下去”

[[奧克蘭運動家亞太區球探部長希斯洛普]]
“第一個印象就是他身材跟協調性都很棒，還有一個印象就是他球速不快，慢慢觀察兩三年，就發現他一直在進步，其實一直到現在也一直在進步”

沙子宸小學五年級到國中三年級都是打社區棒球，高中進到彰化藝中之後，才接受正規的棒球訓練，他國中時最快球速只有123公里，高中畢業已經衝到147公里，不斷進步，也讓運動家球探注意到他。

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Taiwan’s rescue team returns from Turkey

Taiwan’s rescue team returned home from Turkey on Wednesday, after more than a hundred hours of grueling work in earthquake-stricken areas. Over a five-day period, the team of 130 rescuers and five rescue dogs worked nonstop and rescued three people from under collapsed buildings. Team leader Huang Po-tsun said he was honored to have helped, adding that among his three overseas missions, Turkey was the most unforgettable.

After 10 days in Turkey, 130 people and five rescue dogs, part of Taiwan’s search and rescue team, came back home.

Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang and Turkish Representative Muhammed Berdibek welcome them at the airport.

Lin Yu-chang
Interior minister
We are full of gratitude. Over this period, they’ve worked so hard and completed their mission under very unforgiving weather conditions.

Muhammed Berdibek
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I really appreciate their help and they saved three souls in Turkey. So you’ve saved three souls in Turkey. We really appreciate it.

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They’ve helped with so much. From 8,000 kilometers away, they flew to Turkey, and immediately went on to help so many people. And they saved lives, it’s really quite something.

Huang Po-tsun
Search team leader
Our efforts were recognized by Turkey. We’ve helped the country more or less. I think it was worthwhile, even though it was cold, really cold. When I was in Iran, at minus 4 degrees, I didn’t feel so cold. But under Turkey’s minus 4 degrees, I couldn’t stop shivering.

This is the third overseas search and rescue mission led by firefighter Huang Po-tsun, who said Turkey was the most unforgettable among them.

Huang Po-tsun
Search team leader
I’ve led exactly three overseas search teams. This time I’ve also felt most honored, and it was unforgettable. Now I have frostbite on various parts of my body, so it’s felt in the bones too.

Though many parts of Huang’s body were frostbitten, the pain cannot compare to that experienced by Turkish locals affected by the earthquake. The rescue team’s relentless effort once again showed the world that “Taiwan Can Help.”

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Tsai shares administration’s efforts in women empowerment at ICDF forum

President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday attended the Empower Women, Empower LAC Forum, where she discussed Taiwan’s policies to promote women’s empowerment. The event was attended by representatives of many Latin American and Caribbean nations. Among them was the President of Paraguay, who thanked Taiwan and the International Cooperation and Development Fund for helping small and medium enterprises that are led by women in the aftermath of COVID.

President Tsai Ing-wen and Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez, pose for a group photo with representatives from allied nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The ICDF on Wednesday held the Empower Women Empower LAC Forum. There Tsai discussed her administration’s efforts to achieve gender equality in Taiwan.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
In 2019, Taiwan finally became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Over in the government, 40% of our lawmakers were women. That’s the highest ratio in Asia. On the front of economics, 37% of our enterprises are women-led small and medium enterprises.

Many of Taiwan’s allies bore the brunt of COVID. To help them, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned the ICDF to launch programs to provide technical assistance, educational training and financial services for women-led small and medium enterprises in Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.

Women who benefitted from the programs were in attendance at the event. Together with his wife Paraguay’s president spoke about how the programs had helped women in his country.

Mario Abdo Benitez
President of Paraguay
I would like to thank the R.O.C. Taiwan for providing US$5 million in funds so that these programs can be implemented more concretely.

Taiwan Can Help continues to be a main theme in international events with friendly nations. Reports say Tsai herself may go on a state visit next month, and perhaps even give a speech at her alma mater in the U.S. in May or June.

Tsai did not comment on the reports. Still, now that the pandemic is waning, it’s time to get back on international visits on her last year as president.

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School caterers cut back on eggs amid soaring wholesale price

School catering companies are cutting back on eggs in kids’ meals, due to the rising price of eggs nationally. On Monday, the wholesale price of one catty, which is 600 grams, rose from NT$50 to NT$52, a new all-time high. Many families are skipping eggs at home, and school meals are relying more heavily on soy products as a source of protein. We spoke to a nutritionist to find out if that’s a good idea, and how to ensure you get balanced sources of protein in your diet.

Egg prices are soaring sky high again. School catering companies have been forced to adjust their menus, reducing the number of eggs in meals.

Chen Ming-hsin
National Mealbox Union
What we’re doing is basically adding some vegetables on top of the eggs, for example things kids like, such as onions, sweet corn and tomatoes. For the protein, we’re using vegetable-based proteins to make up the difference, such as soft and dried tofu.

The catering companies stress that although eggs are on the menu less than they used to be, vegetable proteins will make up the difference.

Meanwhile, on the popular discussion network PTT, netizens are discussing which foods they’ve stopped buying due to the soaring prices. The top three are chicken cutlets, hand-shaken drinks and eggs.

Hsia Tzu-wen
Nutritionist
Soy products, seafood, fish, and even beef and pork, can all replace the protein from eggs. Of course, there are some nutrients which are more particular to eggs, such as lecithin. We hope that people eat a balanced diet, because when you consume a varied diet, you can get the nutrients you would get from eggs from other sources.

This nutritionist says that vegetables and animal proteins are all useful in their own way. To some extent they can replace each other. But nutrients found in eggs – like lecithin – are great for treating blood clots and atherosclerosis. The key is to make sure you eat plenty of different healthy foods.

Hsia Tzu-wen
Nutritionist
The order we recommend for protein consumption would be soy first, followed by fish, eggs and meat. We suggest an average of one egg a day. That’s enough, because an egg contains about 190 milligrams of cholesterol. We usually recommend a maximum cholesterol intake of about 300 milligrams a day.

Nutritionists say children can handle more eggs than that each day, but patients with cardiovascular disease should be more careful not to exceed their daily cholesterol limit.

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Former finance minister thanks medical team after tricuspid valve operation

Former Finance Minister Lin Chen-kuo on Wednesday thanked a team of doctors at Taipei Veterans General Hospital who treated his heart problems. The 85-year-old official had experienced tricuspid valve regurgitation, a condition that causes blood to flow in the wrong direction in the heart chambers. Thanks to minimally invasive surgery, Lin was able to recover quickly.

Former Finance Minister Lin Chen-kuo, who is 85 this year, thanks the medical team at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. During the Lunar New Year break, Lin was sent to the emergency room due to severe tricuspid valve regurgitation, which even triggered heart failure.

Lin Chen-kuo
Former Finance minister
I often went on walks and felt tightness in my chest. But I didn’t really understand much about the tricuspid valve. I had already had heart surgery. So nobody dared give me any guarantees of what the results would be after another operation.

Lin underwent a catheter-based repair treatment for the tricuspid valve. Recovery time was minimal, and he was able to walk around the following day. Currently this kind of treatment is only covered by the National Health Insurance under some conditions, meaning most patients still have to pay big amounts out of pocket.

Hsu Chiao-po
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Although they cover some of the costs, it is conditional. We need to collect information on the patient and send it for review. The catheter itself already costs NT$1 million more or less. But during the procedure, other instruments are used as well, so altogether it exceeds NT$1 million.

Doctors warn that big temperature swings can cause patients with cardiovascular disease to experience more severe symptoms.

Lee Ching-wei
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Tricuspid valve disease and other cardiovascular conditions do indeed get worse when it’s cold, and when temperatures change quickly. All that puts pressure on the circulatory system and it makes it more likely that the conditions worsen. It’s hard to control.

Sung Shih-hsien
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
When the weather is cold, underlying cardiovascular diseases that are not manifesting any symptoms could start showing symptoms. If that happens, it is time to go see a doctor.

Doctors say warning signs to look out for include dizziness, shortness of breath while walking and swollen feet. If you see any of these signs, go to a doctor, as it could mean problems with the tricuspid valve.

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Keelung’s blind pianist Hsu Cheh-cheng plays for the people of Turkey

Last week, Keelung shoppers were astonished by a surprise performance by pianist Hsu Cheh-cheng. Hsu held a pop-up concert in a shopping mall in the city. It was a tribute to the people of Turkey, as they deal with the aftermath of the horrendous earthquake that struck on Feb. 6. A native of Keelung, Hsu was born blind and is now an internationally sought-after concert pianist who was trained in Austria. He says he particularly enjoys playing in public places, because of the "down-to-earth" atmosphere, and the chance to connect more deeply with the audience.

His hands fly deftly over the keys. A beautiful melody soars out through this shopping mall and its hubbub. Many shoppers pause to listen and enjoy the special occasion.

This is Keelung’s celebrated pianist Hsu Cheh-cheng. He’s playing Mozart’s “Turkish March” as a tribute to the people of Turkey.

Hsu Cheh-cheng
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I wanted to play the “Turkish March” even though it’s a very happy tune, because I wanted to inspire people’s compassion. If any of our friends in Turkey are listening, I hope it can bring hope into their hearts.

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Member of public
I’ve got tears in my eyes. No matter what struggles we encounter, it’s enough to make us carry on with courage. Really.

39-year-old Hsu was born blind. At the age of three, he could pick out the notes on a piano to a tune hummed by his grandfather. He began piano lessons at the age of five, and at 13 he won first prize in an international piano competition for visually-impaired youth. He then went to Austria for further training, and has been invited to perform around the world. But despite his pedigree, he loves to play for passing crowds in Taiwan’s public places.

Hsu Cheh-cheng
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I think the atmosphere is very down-to-earth. Otherwise, if you play in a concert hall, you’re very far away from the people. It really feels like we’re performing somewhere high and lofty above them. But in fact, as performers we feel very lonely. But in public places, you can connect with people up close.

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NBA stars and Olympian’s shoes showcased at an sneaker exhibition in Taipei

Sneaker lovers, take note! A new exhibition called "Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street" has opened at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The exhibition features some 300 pairs of sport shoes of NBA stars and Taiwanese Olympians. The exhibition showcases the history of sneakers and how they have evolved over the years. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a closer look.

Stephany Yang
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The exhibition features 300 different sports shoes from different eras.

Walk into the exhibition, and there are sneakers from the 1920s all the way to the present day. The exhibition hopes to showcase the history of sports shoes and how it has evolved from mere sportswear to status symbols and fashion statements.

Horace Chen
Exhibition manager
The two pairs of shoes on display here are shoes produced by Converse in the 1920s and 1930s. The company has a history of a hundred years. In the 1920s, Converse were worn by basketball players. In fact, in the past, as we can see in this exhibition, a majority of these shoes were tailor-made shoes for athletes, and focused on particular functions. Later on, due to consumer demand, or endorsements by artists or sports stars, different shoes were produced and not only worn for sports, but for casual wear as well.

Another area features sneakers worn by several Taiwan athletes such as Olympic weightlifting gold medalists Kuo Hsin-chun and Hsu Shu-ching, and marathon runner Tommy Chen. There are also shoes collected by celebrities like Jay Chou.

In addition, there are sneakers from the Air Jordan History of Flight series, as well as shoes signed or worn by former NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen, Penny Hardaway, and others.

Horace Chen
Exhibition manager
The shoe exhibitions that consumers often hear about are mostly second-hand trading markets. But our exhibition meets the requirements of a museum, with 24-hour temperature and humidity control.

The exhibition is divided into four themes: "Street styles from different countries," "Designers, brands and collaborations," "Innovations in sneaker design" and "Sneakers made out of recyclable materials."

Horace Chen
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The last area of the exhibition focuses on the current trends in footwear, which is sustainability and environmental protection. All sports brands are experimenting in this area. For example, using plant-based materials, recycled materials such as marine debris, or using recycled materials from the shoes themselves to make new shoes.

The exhibition will be on at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall until March 5, 2023.

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