Yu-Min Lin was born in Taiwan on July 12, 2003. He began pitching internationally in 2015 for Chinese Taipei. During his tenure in China, Lin pitched in WBSC Baseball World Cup games with the U-12, U-15, U-18 and U-23 teams. Lin established a name for himself in 2021 while pitching for Chinese Taipei at the WBSC Baseball World. In a sixth place finish, Lin started two games against Cuba and Venezuela leading his country with 14 strikeouts over 8.2 innings. In 2019, at just 16 years old, Lin started two games for the World Champion Chinese Taipei at the U-18 winning against Spain and Australia. Lin pitched out of the bullpen in two more games, including a game against the United States where he allowed two earned runs over 14 innings, striking out 15.
When was Yu-Min Lin Signed?
The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Lin out of Taiwan to a minor league contract for $525K in December 2021.
Age: 20
Height/Weight: 5’11” 160 lbs.
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
Scouting grades: Fastball 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60
The southpaw has great movement from his body and delivery. Similar to Nestor Cortes, Lin is about leg and body movement. Fastball velocity slightly lacks only reaching 89-93 mph. But the Diamondbacks believe that the 20-year-old has time to add strength and increase speed. Lin loves to lean on his off-speed; curveball, slider, and changeup. Strong left-side arm movement and leg kick movement can have hitters looking silly at the dish. Especially when he goes to the curveball and diving changeup.
Yu-Min Lin’s Diamondbacks Tenure
2022
Lin successfully pitched in the ACL and for Class A Visalia. Between the two, Lin fanned 91 over 56 1/3 innings. His 40.3% K rate ranked him sixth best among 1,343 Minor Leaguers with at least 50 innings pitched.
2023
After impressing the Diamondbacks over 56 innings in 2022, the front office made an aggressive decision to promote Lin to High-A Hillsboro. Over 13 starts Lin pitched 60.1 innings with a 3.43 ERA. Strikeout numbers continued to stay steady with a 32 percent K-rate limiting batters to a .222 average. Later in the season, Lin was promoted to Double-A Amarillo. Against tougher hitters, he handled the competition well. In 11 starts Lin pitched 60.0 innings going 5-2 with a 4.28 ERA. Lin’s strikeout and walk numbers were impacted with his K rate of 32% dipping down to 24.7%, and his walk rate slightly increasing from 9.3% to 10.0%. One of the more impressive pitching seasons for a prospect in the Diamondbacks’ farm system. The addition of Lin with Amarillo led to a deep playoff run and eventually a Championship.
Future
Inside the Diamonds ranks Lin as the Diamondbacks’ fourth-best prospect. He is expected to start the season at either Double-A or Triple-A.
