Introducing the other outfielder from Taiwan: Chih-Hsien Chiang.

Before we go on, let’s mention the shadow Chiang has played under these past two seasons.

Red Sox followers have heard all about Che-Hsuan Lin, the gifted Taiwanese center fielder who not only can reach base but also can cover a lot of ground with his speed and ability to make reads in the outfield.

Lin, 22, played in the All-Star Futures Game in 2008 and was named the game’s MVP after hitting a two-run home run. He has been to major league spring training camp the past two years and began his second season with the Portland Sea Dogs this year before being promoted to Triple-A, where he is hitting .270 in 35 games.

Chiang began last season as a designated hitter and right fielder. He was an infielder until the 2009 season. Chiang doesn’t have the speed of Lin, and his outfield reads took a while to develop.

But Chiang, 23, can play.

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Off to his best start as a pro, Chiang was invited to the Futures Game, which will be played today in Phoenix. Sea Dogs teammate Will Middlebrooks will join him.

“I was surprised and excited,” Chiang said through interpreter and coach Mickey Jiang. “I was kind of emotional. I look forward to playing.”

Chiang signed with the Red Sox in 2005 and Lin signed in 2007. Most of the attention has gone to Lin.

No big deal and no resentment, according to Chiang.

“It isn’t like that,” he said. “Lin is a terrific outfielder. We played against each other in high school. I’m happy for Lin getting the big league experience and going to Triple-A.

“I’m trying to catch up, just be myself.”

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Chiang is batting .316 with 14 home runs and 60 RBI over 70 games. Last year he played 120 games and hit .260 with 11 home runs and 65 RBI.

“I got off to a slow start last year,” said Chiang, who hit .311 after last season’s All-Star break.

“This year, I got my work in with (hitting coach Dave) Joppie. I’m not satisfied, but I’m happy with the numbers.”

Chiang, who batted .320 in June with seven home runs, was named Eastern League player of the month. 

MIDDLEBROOKS HAS been playing well in Portland, giving the Red Sox their first legitimate third-base prospect since Kevin Youkilis.

Middlebrooks, 22, missed 19 days last month with a strained triceps muscle, but the injury hasn’t slowed him down. He was 13 for 20 in a five-game series at Binghamton, and is batting .322 with nine home runs and 43 RBI. 

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PAST PLAYERS in the Futures Game include Stolmy Pimentel (2010), Junichi Tazawa and Casey Kelly (’09), Lin (’08), Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz (’07), Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez (’05), Youkilis (’03) and Adrian Gonzalez (’01).

Outfielder Reymond Fuentes, traded to San Diego in the Gonzalez deal, will be at this year’s Futures Game. He’s batting .289 with 34 stolen bases in advanced Class A.

Kelly, also included in the San Diego trade, is 7-3 with a 4.34 ERA in Double-A San Antonio and was a starter in the Texas League All-Star game last week. He pitched a perfect first inning with one strikeout. 

THE EASTERN LEAGUE All-Star game is scheduled for Wednesday night in Manchester, N.H. Chiang and Middlebrooks were among five Sea Dogs selected, along with outfielder Alex Hassan and pitchers Alex Wilson and Stephen Fife.

Wilson and Fife may not see action, however. In previous years, the Red Sox have not allowed their pitchers to participate in the game. 

AUTHOR MARTY DOBROW will be at Hadlock Field on Thursday to sign his book and read portions of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” The book follows the careers of six minor league players, including former Sea Dogs Charlie Zink and Manny Delcarmen.

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Dobrow will be at Portland Patio, located on the first-base side of the concourse, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

 


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