Swing.

26-year-old Lyle Lin knew from a young age that he wanted to play baseball professionally.

He was inspired by Tawny's baseball greats like Major League pitcher Chen Ming Wang.

So growing up, definitely watching Chen Ming Wang for the Yankees, you know, in the early morning before school.

At just 15 years old, Lyle moved to the United States by himself to pursue his dream, a decision his family was unsure about.

First they were like, what are you thinking?

But um, you know, thankfully my sister was there at the same time, so she was be able to take care of me.

Lyle first went to high school in California, where he lived with a host family.

Then in 2016, he made history as the first ever Taiwanese player to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team.

The Seattle Mariners picked Lin, but he declined the offer.

and decided to continue his education, accepting a scholarship from Arizona State University.

I got offered from Arizona State, and then I thought for me was a better path go to Arizona State first and then get my education.

While many Taiwanese players make their way into Major League Baseball, they usually sign directly from Taiwan, like Lin Sheng En, who got picked up by the Cincinnati Reds earlier this year.

Lyle is the first Taiwanese person to work his way up through American high school and to make it into the league through the amateur draft system.

Ling was drafted again in 2018, this time by the Houston Astros.

But he once again declined a contract in order to see out his education.

There's some um, I guess money issue because I want a higher signing bonus.

I got drafted later, so I was like, okay, I can go back to ASU, you know, keep getting better and get drafted higher for the next year.

Once he finished college in 2019, he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

the 2023 World Series runners up, as he was based in Arizona, this worked out well for him.

That was great because remember I got drafted and I saw the spring training complex in a Google Map really 15 minutes away.

I'm like, okay, easy drive for sure.

After he delivers.

and that's hit to deep left field, Jeff Martinez is going back and that is gone.

Lyle played for the Diamondbacks minor league teams until spring this year, he left the organization and got picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays, playing with that team's minor league club in Vancouver.

Like I say, I was I was a free agent for like a week.

The Blue Jays needed a catcher, they're my organization needed a catcher.

Though Ling has dreams of making it as a baseball star in the US, he hasn't forgotten his roots, earlier this year he played for Taiwan's national team at the Asian Games in Hangzo, China.

Lyle's contract with the Blue Jays is currently uncertain, but he remains optimistic about the future.

I sign a year contract with the Blue Jays, let's see if they renew with my uh my contract, you know, around December, who knows.

So just I believe baseball guy, you know what I mean, so just keep put my head down, keep working hard, um I'm sure the opportunity will come.

Ling knew since he was little that baseball was his destiny, he worked hard to get to where he is and he set a few milestones along the way.

Ling has big dreams.

and he's determined to get there, one catch, one hit and one home run at a time.

Alex Tun and Leslie Liao for Taiwan Plus.