TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese baseball prospect Lin Sheng-en (林盛恩) has begun the new season in the minor league system of the Cincinnati Reds, attempting the rare feat of becoming a two-way player capable of excelling both as a pitcher and a hitter, per CNA.

The 19-year-old is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar widely regarded as the modern benchmark for two-way excellence.

Lin is the only player in the Reds’ farm system currently being developed in such a dual role. Reds Director of Player Development Jeremy Farrell said such cases are extremely rare, noting that few players possess the ability or receive organizational backing to pursue pitching and hitting at a professional level.

Farrell, who oversees the development of roughly 200 players in the Reds’ minor league system, said the growing prominence of Ohtani has raised awareness of two-way players, though they remain uncommon in Major League Baseball.

“The biggest key to being a two-way player is performing at your best in both roles,” Farrell said, adding that the level of competition requires significant time and effort to maintain performance on the mound and at the plate. He said Lin has shown strong potential, describing him as hardworking and committed to improving in both areas.

According to Farrell, Lin is the first player in recent years for whom the Reds have implemented a dedicated two-way development program. The MLB website has also highlighted Lin as a prospect to watch due to the organization’s experiment in developing him in both roles.

Reds pitcher Hunter Greene briefly attempted a two-way role early in his professional career, primarily pitching while also serving as a designated hitter.

Lin is currently ranked the No. 16 prospect in the Reds’ system. Farrell praised his professionalism, noting that since joining the team, Lin has worked to adapt to American culture and the structure of professional baseball.

During his first full season in the US last year, Lin played third base, shortstop, and outfield in the rookie league, but did not pitch. He resumed pitching during fall instructional league training.

The Reds plan to use Lin primarily as a pitcher this season, deploying him as a starter or long reliever every few days, while also using him as a designated hitter when not pitching, a role similar to Ohtani’s in the majors.

The Reds signed Lin to a NT$39 million (US$1.2 million) contract in June 2023, reflecting high expectations for his all-around development. Farrell said the team will evaluate Lin’s progress as a two-way player on a yearly basis, adding that success in both roles would provide greater flexibility in roster construction and player deployment.