Get To Know Your Imports: The Lamigo Monkeys

Source: Oliver Wu

In a season when all the pieces fell into place, the 2017 Lamigo trio of Segovia, Downs, and Spruill led their team to a Golden Championship, winning both halves and the championship series. Segovia is now with the Brothers, Spruill is a free agent after being released by the Texas Rangers (I guess I'll go out on a limb and say that he'll be back in Taiwan, soon) which leaves Downs as the sole returnee of the three.

Joining him are Kern and Nix, both with CPBL experience: Kern with the Brothers and Nix with the Lions. They have big shoes to fill in the midst of heightened expectations but seem ready for the challenge.

CPBL English presents fans with Get To Know Your Imports: The Lamigo Monkeys.

#33 Darin Downs
Born: December 26, 1984 -- United States

Height: 191 cm

Weight: 95 kg

Who has been your biggest influence as a baseball player? I'd have to say my family. My father, from the time I can remember, was throwing me ground balls in our driveway. He was always practicing with me and playing catch so he laid the foundation for me pretty early on. And as I got older I remember us always watching the Atlanta Braves on TV because that was who we got on our local provider. So I remember I grew up watching Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz and those guys of the mid-90's. So looking up and watching those guys pitch kept me going and wanting to be the best I could be.

How about as a person? I spent so much time away from home and family and friends. I've had some great teammates, great coaches, and great chaplains throughout the years that really kept me grounded and moving forward and just kept moving in the right direction and helping me out with everything. It's hard when you travel all the time and you're away from home six to eight months out of the year but most of those people shaped me in a good way into who I am today. 

What has been the most satisfying moment of your baseball career so far? There's quite a bit but getting the opportunity to play for the Tigers after not being drafted. My family is from Michigan and both sides of my family grew up just outside of Detroit. So for that to come full circle and me make my debut there and then pitch a couple nights later, like two or three innings, I just remember all of my family being there, my sisters, my wife, and my dad. I remember thinking how proud my dad was watching me strike out four or five hitters, so I did really well. It was awesome to be able to exprience that myself but to also have my family there and how everything came full circle back to Michigan was amazing.

What are some expectations you have for yourself this season? I said the same thing last year but the goal is really to pitch a full season here. If you make it to the end that's a win in itself. Anything that comes extra, personally or for the team, is beneficial. I want to win, like last year, it was fun, we broke a lot of records and almost everyone is back. So moving forward it's just trying to help the team win. 

What's the most difficult part of playing overseas? It's right now...not seeing my wife and kids for three months. I go, I say goodbye, and I'm gone in a foreign land. I've been here before and I knew what to expect but just being away from family and not being able to see them do their thing. Braden started t-ball this year and I didn't get to see his first game or practice so that's tough, missing the activities. 

What are your impressions of Taiwan? It's great. As a family we love it and have had a lot of fun here. It's been a great experience. We enjoy the food and we have our little routine during the off days so it's a good experience. 

If you weren't playing baseball, what do you think you would be doing? Now that I've played baseball, if I weren't playing I'd probably be coaching. But if I hadn't played baseball...I honestly don't know, but something outside of an office. How I've lived my life the past 15 or 16 years, I cannot see myself sitting down in an office and not moving for seven to eight hours. 

Do you have a secret talent? No, not that I know of.

What do you like to do during your free time? At home I like to relax with the kids and spend that extra time with them. I like to play basketball and a little golf. But right now, there's not too much free time, all of that goes to the family, especially in the offseason. 

Favorite place you have played? It would have to be Detroit in September during our playoff run. The fans and atmosphere are second to none.

Favorite food? Chicken of any kind but chicken parmesan tops the list. 

Favorite movie? Bad Boys 2 with Will Smith.

Favorite song or band? I enjoy all hip hop in general. I'm really into Lacrae at the moment.

Favorite book? I didn't really read much but I remember the book Lone Survivor, I read that cover to cover in three or four days. That is the book that got me into reading because I never really liked reading or read anything outside of school. 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Maybe time travel. Go forward and see what's in store and then maybe go back and fix some things. 

Where is your dream vacation spot? It would be Fiji or Bora Bora. 

Tea or coffee? Coffee for sure.

Rice or noodles? Rice

Mac or PC? Mac

Avengers or Justice League? Avengers

Hot weather or cold weather? Uh...medium? 

Morning person or night owl? Morning

Spend time alone or go to a party? That's tricky because I'm an introvert but I like being loud and obnoxious, at times, and having fun with a group of people, so it depends.

Read a book or go hiking? Outdoors, anytime I can get outdoors.

Run or lift? Lift for sure. I hate running!

Amusement park or museum? Museum

#38 Bruce Kern
Born: April 24, 1988 -- United States

Height: 185 cm

Weight: 80 kg

Who has been your biggest influence as a baseball player? I grew up watching the Yankees so for all those years they kept winning, Derek Jeter was kind of the leader of those teams so I always just kind of influenced my game around him.

How about as a person? Probably my parents. Definitely my dad, he's always been a leader and led by example. So I've always just kind of followed in his footsteps and the example that he set. 

What has been the most satisfying moment of your baseball career so far? Getting drafted is definitely up there. I played two years at a community college and then two years at St. Johns University. That and we won the Big East championship my senior year. That was pretty cool and very exciting. 

What are some expectations you have for yourself this season? I just want to work hard. Last year I had eight wins and missed the last two months of the season. So I set a goal of 15 wins, you know, the manager wants me to get 16 wins like Segovia! That's the first thing he told me when I got here so I'm going to try to do that, so hopefully.

What's the most difficult part of playing overseas? Just being away and so far from your family. It's not like if I get two days off that I can go home. It takes two days just to get home so that's the hardest part, being away from them.

What are your impressions of Taiwan? Just how nice the people are. No matter what team they're rooting for, if you're walking down the street and you need help, you can literally ask anyone. It's amazing, it really is. I've never seen anything like it. Even taxi drivers, you feel really comfortable with them. 

If you weren't playing baseball, what do you think you would be doing? My dad owns a business, a deli back home, so I'm sure it would be something along those lines. I make a killer sandwich!

Do you have a secret talent? I go bow hunting back home with my bow and arrow. I'm pretty accurate with that so that would kind of be a special talent. 

What do you like to do during your free time? I'm a big gamer. I play a lot of Xbox and PlayStation. A lot of Fortnite and Public Battlegrounds. I play video games, that's what I do. 

Favorite place you have played? I would say Taoyuan is up there. I got to pitch at CitiField, that was amazing, it was so huge. My AA team was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that was pretty cool too. 

Favorite food? There's nothing like a good burger. Or steak. Steak or burger, anything that's red meat. 

Favorite movie? Anything with Jim Carrey, comedies. 

Favorite song or band? I like Eminem, anything with him.

Favorite book? I don't really read a lot of books so I don't have a favorite book.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Oh man, probably invisibility. I think that would be pretty cool. Or super strength.

Where is your dream vacation spot? Somewhere warm. Probably Hawaii or St. Lucia, somewhere hot that's all inclusive with all you can eat and drink. 

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Rice or noodles? Rice

Mac or PC? Mac

Avengers or Justice League? Avengers

Hot weather or cold weather? Hot weather

Morning person or night owl? Night owl for sure.

Spend time alone or go to a party? Alone time

Read a book or go hiking? Go hiking.

Run or lift? I'd rather lift weights.

Amusement park or museum? Amusement park. 

#24 Michael Nix
Born: May 21, 1983 -- United States

Height: 196 cm

Weight: 120 kg

Who has been your biggest influence as a baseball player? It's gotta be my dad. My entire family has a history with baseball. My uncle coached in college for a long time and played. My dad really developed me in my work ethic and my drive and helped push me in the right direction. He was a very very good influence for me. He was a student of the game, always reading and learing about baseball and he pushed that on me so here I am.

How about as a person? Oh man, my dad. Just all facets of it. He's the smartest man I know, the best man I know, so it's gotta be him too. 

What has been the most satisfying moment of your baseball career so far? Getting drafted. All the hard work you put into it and growing up and dreaming about playing baseball, all of that coming together and getting drafted, all of my family being there so being able to share that with them was special.

What are some expectations you have for yourself this season? To help these guys win another championship. They already have a great squad so I was honored when they reached out and thought I could come in and help. But personally I take it game by game. Throw a lot of strikes, keep the walks down, and give these guys a chance. These guys are going to score runs. So go six or seven innings, give our bullpen a chance, and keep the game close. 

What's the most difficult part of playing overseas? Being away from family. It's also a different culture so getting used to the day-to-day, things that I'm used to back home. But I don't think I've met one person that was mean, everyone is great here and so accommodating and gracious. But definitely being away from family. My wife and I just had our first child, a little baby girl, so it's tough. 

What are your impressions of Taiwan? Very good culture. Like I said before everyone is so gracious and hospitable. Very respectful, so it's been an honor to learn the culture and experience it. I love the food...most of it! So I've had a very good experience here. 

If you weren't playing baseball, what do you think you would be doing? Playing golf, no doubt. Golf was a good rival for me growing up as my favorite sport. I grew up on a golf course and my dad was a really good golfer so from an early age I played golf. So it's my passion, it's the thing I like to do when I have spare time. 

Do you have a secret talent? Oh man...no, I wish I could sing! If I could trade my baseball ability I would want to be able to sing. 

What do you like to do during your free time? Hang out with family. I'm a big homebody, watch movies, and spend quality time because baseball, all my life really, has been road trips and hotels so when I get some time off I like to be with my family. 

Favorite place you have played? I'd say with the Braves. They called me up and I played an exhibition game there [SunTrust Park]. I grew up a Braves fan so the first time, being able to play in that stadium was a dream come true too. 

Favorite food? Steaks.

Favorite movie? Gladiator

Favorite song or band? Need to Breathe. It's kind of Christian rock.

Favorite book? I'm going to go with The Giving Tree, it's a kids book. 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I'd probably have to fly with being able to skip traffic.

Where is your dream vacation spot? I've always wanted to go to New Zealand. For my honeymoon we went to Bora Bora but now it's New Zealand with lots of mountains and green.

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Rice or noodles? Noodles

Mac or PC? Mac

Avengers or Justice League? Avengers

Hot weather or cold weather? Hot weather.

Morning person or night owl? I like to think I'm a morning person but my wife tells me, "You don't have to deal with yourself in the morning!" I'm a morning person as long as I can get my coffee.

Spend time alone or go to a party? Alone time.

Read a book or go hiking? Go hiking.

Run or lift? I'd rather lift.

Amusement park or museum? Amusement park.