A 17-year-old right-handed pitcher is the third Taiwanese high school graduate to sign with a Major League Baseball team this summer, according to UDN.
This week, the Phillies made the signing public. According to reports, Ho’s deal was worth about US$800,000, and he received a signing bonus of US$500,000 (NT$15.97 million). The numbers were later verified in a social media post by Ho’s agent, Mimali Talent Agency.
Ho, a Hualien County native and member of the Amis Indigenous community, started playing baseball at Yuli Elementary School before moving on to Sanmin Junior High School. Later, he joined in one of Taiwan’s top baseball programs, Pingjen Senior High School in Taoyuan.
Ho has participated in international competitions for Taiwan, including the 2024 U-18 Baseball World Cup and the 2023 Asian Youth Baseball Championship. Additionally, he was chosen for the Asian Youth Baseball Championship training squad this year. As his performance improved over the previous few years, MLB scouts began to take notice of Ho, who was widely considered one of Taiwan’s best high school pitching prospects.
Ho’s agency claims that his parents first pushed him to play baseball in order to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. In addition to his academic success, he was awarded the Basegarden Scholarship five times. Ho stated that he intends to finish his education while playing baseball in the United States and eventually serve as an inspiration to the youth of Hualien.
Ho expressed gratitude to his instructors for giving him the chance to participate in both domestic and international competitions. When Ho first joined the program, he recalls being impressed by the skill of Pingjen’s senior players. He claimed that playing with them expanded his baseball expertise and eventually led to opportunities with international professional clubs.
