Liu Kai
Encyclopedia
Liu Kai is a left-handed pitcher
in the New York Yankees
organization. Liu Kai was later released by the New York Yankees minor league system for his extremely poor performance along with his Chinese team mate Zhang Zhenwang.
Liu began playing organized baseball at the age of 12, when he was enrolled in a sports school in China. At age 16, he became a professional baseball player when he began playing for the Guangdong Leopards
of the China Baseball League
. He has also participated as a member of the People's Republic of China National Team
.
Liu's best pitch is his fastball, topping out at 84 miles per hour.
On June 18, 2007, became the first baseball player born in the People's Republic of China to sign a Major League Baseball
contract
with the prior permission of the China Baseball Association, along with Zhang Zhenwang
, who also signed with the Yankees. The first baseball player born in the People's Republic of China to sign with a Major League Baseball club was pitcher Wang Chao, who signed with the Seattle Mariners on August 9, 2001.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organization. Liu Kai was later released by the New York Yankees minor league system for his extremely poor performance along with his Chinese team mate Zhang Zhenwang.
Liu began playing organized baseball at the age of 12, when he was enrolled in a sports school in China. At age 16, he became a professional baseball player when he began playing for the Guangdong Leopards
Guangdong Leopards
The Guangdong Fighting Leopards are a China Baseball League team based in Guangdong. They play their games in Zhongshan Stadium.The Leopards began play in . They were the second place team in...
of the China Baseball League
China Baseball League
The China Baseball League or Chinese Baseball League or CBL is a professional baseball league under the administration of Chinese Baseball Association, founded in 2002.-Teams:...
. He has also participated as a member of the People's Republic of China National Team
China national baseball team
The China national baseball team is the national representative team of the People's Republic of China.-Olympic Games:China secured qualification to the 2008 Summer Olympics automatically as host nation, giving the country its first Olympics berth....
.
Liu's best pitch is his fastball, topping out at 84 miles per hour.
On June 18, 2007, became the first baseball player born in the People's Republic of China to sign a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
with the prior permission of the China Baseball Association, along with Zhang Zhenwang
Zhang Zhenwang
Zhang Zhenwang is a catcher in the New York Yankees organization. Zhang began his professional baseball career with the Tianjin Lions of the China Baseball League, leading them to the championship series in 2002, 2005 and 2006...
, who also signed with the Yankees. The first baseball player born in the People's Republic of China to sign with a Major League Baseball club was pitcher Wang Chao, who signed with the Seattle Mariners on August 9, 2001.