ASU baseball traditionally attracts players from all over the U.S., but this year's team also boasts a player who hails from across the Pacific Ocean.
Freshman first basemen Lyle Lin — originally from Taipei, Taiwan — continues to adjust to life in America, finding a second home at ASU in the process.
Lin came to Tempe as more than just another talented recruit. He's also the first ever Taiwanese baseball player to be selected in the MLB Draft.
Thankful pic.twitter.com/E0s3DeRgKy
— Lyle Lin (@lin_lyle) June 11, 2016
Lin was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the 477th pick in the 16th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
He chose not to sign with the team right away and stay in college for the time being.
But Lin never thought that being drafted was a possibility because if Taiwanese players do make it to an MLB team, they customarily enter into an Asian baseball league beforehand.
"I didn't think about it before the draft because normally in Taiwan we just sign as a free agent," Lin said. "I didn't think I'd be the first one because I never heard about anyone getting drafted from my country."
Once Lin was picked, it was business as usual for him.
"It actually meant a lot to my family and to my country, just made them proud of me," he said.
This is Lin's fourth year in the U.S. He arrived in America for his sophomore year of high school, and subsequently attended JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California.
Lin's baseball career flourished at JSerra Catholic. During his senior season, Lin hit for a .315 average and 33 home runs.
ASU baseball head coach Tracy Smith has taken notice to Lin's talent. In their opening-series sweep of Northwestern, Lin excelled for the Sun Devils, going 7-for-13 at the plate with three RBI.
"He's really been playing well. He's been catching the baseball well, throwing the baseball well," Smith said. "He's putting together some of consistent at-bats as anybody we have. So it's been fun to watch him progress these past few weeks."
After battling a foot injury earlier in the year, Lin worked to get his body back into baseball shape. And that's just as well, since Lin learned to play a new position this off-season. He was originally listed as one of four catchers on the roster, but Smith made Lin the opening day starter at first base. Despite this, Lin will probably still see some time at catcher, but it appears he'll mainly be at first.
Transitioning to first base for a full season could be a tough change for Lin, but with the help of his teammates, he has fit right in with ASU baseball.
Lin has already bonded with the team. His teammates have shown him around by taking him to nice restaurants and golf outings.
And it's not like they've been dragging him around, either. It appears that Lin's teammates think he's an entertaining person.
“Lyle is one of the funniest kids and one of the most fun to be around for this year’s team, definitely in the last three years I’ve been here," ASU senior catcher Zach Cerbo said. "I mean, he’s from a different country. It’s funny to hear just how he talks and just the camaraderie with him. But he’s a really genuine kid, a lot of fun to be around.”
But this kindness is nothing new to Lin, as he said he's been treated well since he arrived.
"I just love the people here. Everyone is so nice to me," Lin said. "I'm a foreigner here technically and everyone just made me feel so welcome."
Reach the reporter at mpharri7@asu.edu or follow @Harris_Mark7 on Twitter.
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