The MLB has been looking for athletic kids in China, hoping to introduce the sport to the largest market in the world. Many Chinese Players hope to attend college in the U.S., so they can get drafted by the MLB..
MLB’s campaign is similar to that of the NBA’s introduction of basketball to China with Yao Ming two decades ago. Now, basketball in China is an extremely popular sport.
Fnu Suonandajie is a Chinese player seeking a spot in the Major League. Fnu isn’t his first name; it’s what officials call “First Name Unknown.” Suonandajie isn’t his last name; it is his name that was given to him when he was a monk in China. As a result of cultural differences, he wishes to be called DJ – which might stand for the Da Jie part of his name.
DJ started playing baseball when he was 10, and through his athleticism, he got introduced to MLB’s middle school baseball program in Changzhou. The recruiters were impressed by DJ’s footspeed and throwing accuracy. DJ said when he was living in Qinghai, a province in Tibet, he got trained to throw stones at yaks. The kids would have to be accurate, throwing the stones near the yaks. DJ said this is common practice in Qinghai.
DJ graduated from the program’s high school in Nanjing while being coached by Ray Chang. He came to the U.S. earning a spot at Los Angeles Harbour College, where he also got a degree in communications. Last November, he was awarded a full scholarship to play for Rockhurst University in Kansas City. Rockhurst plays the Ban Johnson League. He’s the fastest and best player on the team.
“I like the idea of pitcher versus batter, just me against him. My first game in the summer league this year, I strike out first three at-bats, but when I get another chance, I was like, ‘You got me the first three, but I got this one,’ and I squared that ball and hit it in the gap. I flipped my bat and I said to myself, ‘I got you.’ That kind of idea that you just don’t give up until the last out, I like that,” he said passionately about a Ban Johnson game.
DJ’s path is similar to many other players, seeking to earn a Major League spot. If DJ can play well enough for the Major Leagues, then he’d spark another boom in baseball in China. All the MLB needs is a Chinese star baseball player!
MLB’s campaign is similar to that of the NBA’s introduction of basketball to China with Yao Ming two decades ago. Now, basketball in China is an extremely popular sport.
Fnu Suonandajie is a Chinese player seeking a spot in the Major League. Fnu isn’t his first name; it’s what officials call “First Name Unknown.” Suonandajie isn’t his last name; it is his name that was given to him when he was a monk in China. As a result of cultural differences, he wishes to be called DJ – which might stand for the Da Jie part of his name.
DJ started playing baseball when he was 10, and through his athleticism, he got introduced to MLB’s middle school baseball program in Changzhou. The recruiters were impressed by DJ’s footspeed and throwing accuracy. DJ said when he was living in Qinghai, a province in Tibet, he got trained to throw stones at yaks. The kids would have to be accurate, throwing the stones near the yaks. DJ said this is common practice in Qinghai.
DJ graduated from the program’s high school in Nanjing while being coached by Ray Chang. He came to the U.S. earning a spot at Los Angeles Harbour College, where he also got a degree in communications. Last November, he was awarded a full scholarship to play for Rockhurst University in Kansas City. Rockhurst plays the Ban Johnson League. He’s the fastest and best player on the team.
“I like the idea of pitcher versus batter, just me against him. My first game in the summer league this year, I strike out first three at-bats, but when I get another chance, I was like, ‘You got me the first three, but I got this one,’ and I squared that ball and hit it in the gap. I flipped my bat and I said to myself, ‘I got you.’ That kind of idea that you just don’t give up until the last out, I like that,” he said passionately about a Ban Johnson game.
DJ’s path is similar to many other players, seeking to earn a Major League spot. If DJ can play well enough for the Major Leagues, then he’d spark another boom in baseball in China. All the MLB needs is a Chinese star baseball player!