"王維中升大聯盟更進一步"

台灣年輕投手王維中，去年底透過規則五選秀（Rule 5 draft）制度，意外從匹茲堡海盜隊被交易到密爾瓦基釀酒人隊。王維中參加今年春訓也不負國人眾望。六次熱身賽上場共8.1局，只被擊出6支安打，投出4次三振，沒有任何保送，防禦率0。如無意外，王維中將很有可能創下臺灣最年輕就上美國大聯盟的球員紀錄。

那何謂規則五選秀呢？這是美國大聯盟為了避免優秀球員被埋沒在小聯盟而設立的特殊制度。一位滿19歲簽約的球員（未滿19歲簽約得經歷五個球季），在經歷了四個職業球季後，球員必須在每年的11月20日被置於球隊的40人名單中接受保護。否則他將有可能會經規則五選秀被其他球隊選走。

當球員被置入40人名單時，就要與此球員簽一份大聯盟合約。此時球團對該球員即擁有所謂的選擇權，此時球隊可依據戰力需求，在這三年內隨意升上大聯盟或下放小聯盟。

(Sport) Wei-Chung Wang One Step Closer to Major League Play

Young Taiwanese pitcher Wei-Chung Wang was surprisingly selected by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Rule 5 draft last year. Wang did not let his Taiwanese fans down at this years spring training. During the six exhibition games, he pitched 8.1 innings without allowing an earned run or a walk, while giving up only six hits and throwing four strikeouts. If everything goes smoothly, Wang will likely become the youngest Taiwanese player ever to make it into the Major League Baseball (MLB).

So, what exactly is the Rule 5 draft? It is a special MLB player draft held to prevent teams from stockpiling talent in their minor league affiliate teams. To be eligible for selection in the draft, a player needs to be 19 or older and have a minor league contract. After four seasons as a professional (or five if he is under 19), the player must be added to his clubs 40-man roster before November 20. Otherwise, he could be claimed by other teams in the Rule 5 draft.

Once the club adds the player to its 40-man roster, it will have to sign a major league contract with the player. At the same time, it will have the option of calling up the player to major league anytime within the next three years based on the needs of the team, or optioning the player to minor league, also known as option down.

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