Dai-Kang Yang

Yang Dai-Kang
Yang with the Yomiuri Giants in 2017
Oisix Niigata Albirex – No. 1
Outfielder
Born: (1987-01-17) January 17, 1987 (age 37)
Taitung, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
April 20, 2007, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
NPB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.270
Home runs105
RBI482
Stolen bases141
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Yang playing for the Chinese Taipei national team in 2015 WBSC Premier12 warm-up game

Yang Dai-Kang (Chinese: 陽岱鋼; pinyin: Yáng Dàigāng, a.k.a. Daikan Yoh (Japanese: 陽岱鋼, Hepburn: Yō Daikan); born January 17, 1987, Taitung City, Taitung County, Taiwan; previously known as Yang Chung-shou or Chung-Shou Yang 陽仲壽) is a Taiwanese professional baseball outfielder for the Oisix Niigata Albirex of the Eastern League. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Yomiuri Giants.

Early life

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Yang was born in Taitung City, Taitung County, Taiwan on January 17, 1987. After graduating from National Taitung University Affiliated Physical Education Senior High School [zh]'s middle school, he attended Fukuoka Daiichi High School in Japan.[1]

During his three years in high school, he hit a total of 39 home runs. This, along with his speed (running 50m in 5.9 seconds) and arm strength (capable of throwing up to 110m) earned him the nickname of "High Schools' Number One Shortstop".[1][2]

Career

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Nippon Ham Fighters

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The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball selected Yang in the first round of the 2006 NPB Draft. Yang was called up to the Fighters from the reserve team on April 19, 2007.

Yang is a two-time Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series Game MVP, winning the honour in Game 3 of 2012 and Game 2 of 2014.

Yang has won the Nippon Professional Baseball Gold Glove Award twice in 2012 and 2013.

2013 was the best season of Yang's career, where he batted .282 along with 18 homeruns, 67 RBIs, and a league-leading 47 stolen bases.

At the end of the 2016 season after helping the Fighters to victory in the Pacific League and Japan Series, Yoh elected for free agency.

Yomiuri Giants

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On 14 December 2016 it was announced that Yang would be joining the Yomiuri Giants.[3]

Lake Country DockHounds

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On February 23, 2022, Yang signed with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[4] He played in 79 games for the DockHounds, slashing .260/.357/.432 with 9 home runs, 35 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. On February 14, 2023, Yang was released by Lake Country.[5]

High Point Rockers

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On March 6, 2023, Yang signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[6] In 98 games for the Rockers, Yang hit .271/.384/.409 with 10 home runs, 58 RBI, and 6 stolen bases.

Niigata Albirex

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On February 3, 2024, Yang signed with the Niigata Albirex of the Baseball Challenge League.[7]

International career

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Yang played for the Chinese Taipei national baseball team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts as the backup SS to Chin-Lung Hu.

In the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, Yang batted .267/.371/.567 and scored 9 runs, tying Michel Enriquez and Yulieski Gourriel for the tournament lead.

Yang was 1 for 1 for Taiwan in the 2007 Asian Championship, backing up Tai-Shan Chang at third base.

Yang batted 4-for-12 with a home run and four RBI in the first round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Yang was the Most Valuable Player of Pool B.[8]

Yang batted 4 for 17 with a home run and three RBI during the 2015 WBSC Premier12.[9]

During the 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship, Yang batted 2 for 7.[10]

And also, on November 16, 2018, he was selected for the Yomiuri Giants roster at the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series exhibition game against MLB All-Stars.[11]

Personal

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Yang is the brother of Yao-Hsun Yang, a cousin of Chih-Yuan Chen and a nephew of Tai-Shan Chang. He is also related more distantly to Chien-Fu Yang, Cheng-Wei Chang and Sen Yang.

References

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  1. ^ a b Storm.mg (2017-03-23). "一輩子打棒球的陽岱鋼，人生中最重要的是什麼？王牌球員一席話，暖了所有人的心-風傳媒". www.storm.mg (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  2. ^ "巨人・陽岱鋼、数々の逆境と反骨精神 「勝負しないと成長につながらない」". スポーツナビ (in Japanese). 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  3. ^ "【巨人】陽岱鋼と契約合意！背番号「２」１９日に入団会見" [Giants: Yoh Daikan agrees to contract! Wears #2, presser on 19th]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Lake Country DockHounds Add Taiwanese All-Star To The Roster". Lake Country DockHounds. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball - 2023 Transactions".
  6. ^ "Rockers Add Japanese Major League Veteran Dai-Kang Yang". 6 March 2023.
  7. ^ "x.com".
  8. ^ Coskrey, Jason (March 7, 2013). "Second round set in Tokyo with four talented clubs". Worldbaseballclassic.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  9. ^ "Premier12 2015". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  10. ^ 一般社団法人日本野球機構. "ASIA PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 presented by ENEOS". ASIA PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 presented by ENEOS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  11. ^ "8日の「2018日米野球」参加メンバー決まる". 読売巨人軍公式WEBサイト (in Japanese). November 16, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
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