- Source: Giljegiljaw Kungkuan
Giljegiljaw Kungkuan (Chinese: 吉力吉撈·鞏冠; pinyin: Jílìjílāo Gǒngguān; born 13 March 1994 in Taichung, Taiwan), previously known as Chu Li-Jen (Chinese: 朱立人), is a Taiwanese baseball catcher for the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). Giljegiljaw signed with the Cleveland Guardians as a free agent in 2012, and stayed with the team until 2020 when he left to play for the Wei Chuan Dragons.
Professional career
Giljegiljaw began his professional career with the Cleveland Indians as a non-signed free agent, being signed on November 29, 2012 by Jason Lynn and Allen Lin. He was signed for $40,000 as one of several players from Taiwan the team was signing at the time. From 2014 to 2019, he spent his time in the Rookie league and A ball leagues, failing to get more than 150 plate appearances in a season.
After a 2017 season with the Lake County Captains that saw him breaking this streak by getting 518 plate appearances and getting selected as a Midwest League Postseason All-Star, he spent time in the A, AA, and AAA leagues in 2018. Giljegiljaw became a free agent on November 2, 2020.
In the 2021 CPBL draft, Giljegiljaw was selected second overall by the Wei Chuan Dragons. On August 20, 2021, the Dragons announced they had made a 2.4-year, NT$12.93 million contract with Giljegiljaw. Along with the monthly salary from the contract, it included a NT$850,000 incentive bonus. He didn't play a season for them until 2021, where he spent some time for the minor league team before making the major league roster. That season, he hit .256/.310/.458 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs.
In 2022, Giljegiljaw became the CPBL home run champion by hitting 14 home runs, the fewest home runs hit by a home run champion in the league. This lowered number was caused by a change to the balls used by the league, which lowered the ball's coefficient of restitution and raised the seams. That season, he hit .286/.350/.481 with 56 RBIs in addition to his home runs.
International career
Giljegiljaw played in the 2008 PONY World Series and was the home run derby winner.
Giljegiljaw was selected for the Chinese Taipei national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In 12 at bats, he got 4 hits and a home run.
Personal life
Giljegiljaw is an Indigenous Taiwanese and belongs to the Paiwan tribe. He was previously known as Li-Jen Chu.
References
External links
CPBL
Player information from WikiBaseball (in Chinese)
Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Giljegiljaw Kungkuan
- 2024 WBSC Premier12 rosters
- Wei Chuan Dragons
- Cheng Tsung-che
- List of CPBL home run champions
- 2022 Chinese Professional Baseball League season
- 2023 World Baseball Classic rosters
- 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool A
- Italy national baseball team
- Chinese Taipei national baseball team
