- Title: USA: Two Chinese baseball players introduced by the Yankees
- Date: 7th July 2007
- Summary: NEWS CONFERENCE INTRODUCING TWO CHINESE PLAYERS CATCHER ZHENWANG ZHANG, PAN TO PITCHER KAI LIU CAMERAS LIU AND ZHANG PRESENTED WITH N.Y. YANKEES JACKETS AND BASEBALL CAPS N.Y. YANKEES SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN CASHMAN CASHMAN, ZHANG AND LIU (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRIAN CASHMAN, NEW YORK YANKEES SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, SAYING: "You know hopefully over time we'll be able to produce a new avenue of the talent pool. I think globally, as we've seen in other markets, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, we're seeing that the professional leagues are producing very competitive teams, that I think over time, I can see, especially with the emergence of China, you know, maybe a true world champion" LIU AND ZHANG FOLLOWED BY CAMERAS AND JOURNALISTS LIU AND ZHANG TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) ZHENWANG ZHANG, CATCHER AND NEW SIGNING WITH THE N.Y. YANKEES, SAYING: "At first we were very excited and then we felt a lot of pressure, because it's a big challenge ahead of us" JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) KAI LIU, PITCHER AND NEW SIGNING WITH THE N.Y. YANKEES, SAYING: "The biggest challenge is the language and culture, because we need to communicate with the coaches and the language barrier will be the biggest challenge, needing to communicate with the Yankees coaches" LIU AND ZHANG (SOUNDBITE) (English) RANDY LEVINE, NEW YORK YANKEES TEAM PRESIDENT, SAYING: "We do business all over the world, all countries and it's about the New York Yankees and our friendship and our ability to reach out to people all over the world no matter where they may be, in order to improve baseball all over the world and improve the New York Yankees" VARIOUS OF LIU AND ZHANG POSING FOR THE CAMERAS
- Embargoed: 22nd July 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA7B2UYLF7DRI4L5GM31J75U5KL
- Story Text: N.Y. Yankees introduce two Chinese players respresenting the first alliance between a U.S. major league baseball club and China's Baseball Association.
The New York Yankees baseball club introduced its latest signings on Friday (July 6): two teenagers from China.
It's the first time a major league U.S. baseball club has signed Chinese players with the approval of China's Baseball Association.
Left-handed pitcher Kai Liu and catcher Zhenwang Zhang, both 19, were introduced at a news conference at the Yankees stadium.
The N.Y. Yankees, who currently have a Taiwanese pitcher on their roster, are optimistic about the huge potential in the Chinese baseball pool.
Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman said: "We're seeing that the professional leagues are producing very competitive teams, that I think over time, I can see, especially with the emergence of China, you know, maybe a true world champion."
Both teenagers are well aware of the challenges ahead of them.
Zhang said that the idea of playing for one of the most famous baseball teams in the world made them excited, "... and then we felt a lot of pressure, because it's a big challenge ahead of us," he said.
Kai Liu commented: "The biggest challenge is the language and culture, because we need to communicate with the coaches and the language barrier will be the biggest challenge."
Zhang and Liu will return to China to await their U.S. work visas before returning to Tampa, Florida for training.
The Yankees also announced their sponsorship with a Chinese company, dairy producer Yili. It's the first sponsorship between a U.S. major league baseball club and a Chinese business. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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