Minor League Baseball

The Detroit Tigers have side side armed pitcher Fu-Te Ni to a Minor League contract out of Taiwan.

He is a left handed reliever and has been invited to Major League camp for 2009 Spring Training. Ni, 25, spent the previous two seasons pitching in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

If Ni puts together a strong Spring Training with the Tigers then he will be battling for a spot in the Tigers bullpen during the regular season. If not, then Ni will be headed to Triple-A Toledo.

In 2008 Ni went 5-12 with a 3.34 ERA in 145.1 innings pitched. He struck out 132 hitters while pitching for the China Trust Whales in 2008.

In 2007 he secured a 7-12 record with a 3.53 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 122.1 innings pitched.

Ni will pitch for Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic in March. He also pitched for the Taiwan national team at the 2007 World Cup and for Taiwan in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.