Kungkuan Giljegiljaw

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Kungkuan Giljegilijaw
Kungkuan with the Columbus Clippers in 2018
Wei Chuan Dragons – No. 4
Catcher
Born: (1994-03-13) March 13, 1994 (age 30)
Taichung, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
CPBL debut
August 25, 2021, for the Wei Chuan Dragons
CPBL statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.274
Home runs25
Runs batted in88
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • CPBL Home Run Champion (2022)

Kungkuan Giljegiljaw (Chinese: 吉力吉撈·鞏冠; pinyin: Jílìjílāo Gǒngguān; born 13 March 1994 in Taichung, Taiwan), previously known as Li-Jen Chu (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[edit]

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.[1] He was signed for $40,000 as one of several players from Taiwan the team was signing at the time.[2] 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,[3] he spent time in the A, AA, and AAA leagues in 2018. With the 2020 season cancelled, the Indians did not renew their contract with Giljegiljaw.[4]

In the 2021 CPBL draft, Giljegiljaw was selected second overall by the Wei Chuan Dragons.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] That season, he hit .286/.350/.481 with 56 RBIs in addition to his home runs.

International career[edit]

Giljegiljaw played in the 2008 PONY World Series and was the home run derby winner.[5][8]

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.[9]

Personal life[edit]

Giljegiljaw is an Indigenous Taiwanese and belongs to the Paiwan tribe.[10] He was previously known as Li-Jen Chu.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 2019 Cleveland Indians Press Guide. 2019. p. 94.
  2. ^ "Indians Sign Yu-Cheng Chang From Taiwan For $500,000 - BaseballAmerica.com". 2013-06-23. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  3. ^ "Tapia, Chu named MWL Post Season All-Stars". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  4. ^ Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris (2 November 2020). "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". Baseball America. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "中職選秀》強打捕手降臨！ 味全首輪選進吉力吉撈". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 12 July 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  6. ^ "鞏冠加盟味全龍 2.4年總和1293萬". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 20 August 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  7. ^ "台湾プロ野球で珍事、14発で本塁打王 "飛ばないボール"で打高投低に異変". Full-Count（フルカウント） ― 野球ニュース・速報・コラム ― (in Japanese). 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  8. ^ "Long Beach is Walk-Off Winner!". WJPA. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Chinese Taipei Roster & Staff". World Baseball Classic. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  10. ^ Hahn, Daniel (24 February 2020). "Cleveland Indians: Getting to know Giljegiljaw Kungkuan". Away Back Gone. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  11. ^ Yang, Stephanie; Shen, David (2 May 2023). "Some Indigenous people in Taiwan want to drop their Chinese names: 'That history has nothing to do with mine'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 December 2023.

External links[edit]

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