Get To Know Your Imports: The Chinatrust Brothers

After cycling through five different import pitchers during the 2017 season, the Chinatrust Brothers are hoping to stabilize their pitching staff this year with Nick Additon, Mitch Lively, and Zack Segovia.

Additon counts as the sole returnee despite making only one start for the Brothers last year before being sold to the Lotte Giants of the KBO. The Brothers plucked Segovia, last year's CPBL co-leader in wins, away from the Monkeys, and have added Mitch Lively, the 2017 Mexican Winter League Pitcher-of-the-Year.

Also worth noting for the Brothers are the additions of pitching coach Scott Budner and hitting coach Jim Presley, forming an all American coaching staff under second-year manager Cory Snyder. It remains to be seen if the comfortability of being able to communicate freely will translate to positive results on the field but the Brothers' imports are certainly primed to have a successful year.

CPBL English presents fans with Get To Know Your Imports: The Chinatrust Brothers.

#53 Nick Additon
Born: December 16, 1987 -- United States

Height: 196 cm

Weight: 98 kg

Who has been your biggest influence as a baseball player? There's not just one person but it would be my parents. They are really hard workers. My dad wakes up every day at four in the morning and he shows up every day, rain or shine, whether he's sick or not, he shows up and works his butt off every day. And as a baseball player, it's such a long season, an eight-month season, the guys who are the best are the guys who are mentally and physically able to prepare and work every single day of the year and show up and do their job no matter what. Consistency is a big thing in my life and I think I learned that from my mom and dad because I got to watch it every single day growing up. The best examples are the ones shown to you and not spoken about. So they didn't talk about it very much but they did it every single day.

What has been the most satisfying moment of your baseball career so far? That's a tough question...I've never made it to the big leagues so maybe getting the chance to come over here to Asia and play. I've played six years in AAA and bounced around in winter ball a lot and I've played for four different organizations in the US so I don't have that one defining day in the United States. But pretty early on in my career I got some advice that I may be a really good fit to pitch in Asia so getting the opportunity to come over here and having some success, pitching some good games, so pitching in Asia is probably one of those things that I hope to have more defining moments in my career. 

What are some expectations you have for yourself this season? I think as long as I go out there and I'm healthy for 26, 27, or 30 starts, as many as I can make, and I really just put my heart and soul into every start then at the end of the day, whatever the numbers say, whatever the wins say, they're going to be where they need to be. I'm not a person that puts a goal on ERA title or numbers. I've always been the type of pitcher and person where if I put my heart and soul into something then at the end of the day, God willing, everything is going to take care of itself and up to this point it always has.  

What's the most difficult part of playing overseas? I think just being away from family but my family is coming out here. They came out here last year, we're definitely a traveling family. I enjoy it. I'm the luckiest, the most blessed guy in the world to be able to play baseball every day. Every time we have the national anthem...I have a routine of saying how lucky I am and thinking how lucky I am. How lucky I am to be playing in front of these fans and those championship games, you feel even luckier. So there really is no downside to it. Right now I'm away from my wife and three children so that's tough but they'll be out here in three weeks. I wish I could be more candid and give you an answer but we're here in this fancy apartment, I worked out at the gym this morning, made myself steak and eggs...so there really is no downside to playing in Asia!

What are your impressions of Taiwan? To me, in America, the average baseball fan is not a fanatic. They like baseball, they like the games but here you look up in the stands and there are people dancing and chanting from pitch one to pitch 400! Even in a four-hour game and even in the rain and even in 100-degree heat. It's crazy to me the way the fans appreciate the game, each play, each time somebody hits the ball hard, and each time I strike somebody out...the oohs and the aahs and the songs. It's just incredible. To me, that's the best part. It's the passion that the fans have here in Taiwan and Asia. I've gotten the chance to travel to Japan and Korea but when Cha-Cha (Peng Cheng-Min) comes to bat and it's the seventh inning and the game is on the line, the fans are singing his chant and going crazy...it's unbelievable. And to me, these are some of the best fans in the world and I've played in now five or six countries. That's the best part, being able to go out, day in and day out, and have that energy and feed off of that energy from the fans, it's amazing. 

If you weren't playing baseball, what do you think you would be doing?  That's tough because from age four I was telling my preschool teacher that I'm going to be a big league baseball player and even when she said, "You're going to need a backup plan" I said, "Yeah, I'm going to be playing baseball!" And to this day, when my career ends, which it will at some point...I hope I can play for 10 more years, who knows, I want to coach or scout afterward. I enjoy going to the so-called "office" every day and when you enjoy your job like that it's not a job. I enjoy this that much, I get to show up and watch a baseball game and then go compete in a baseball game and then watch more baseball games. I'm truly blessed.  

Do you have a secret talent? Lively and Segovia would tell you that I'm Mr. Gumby, so I could probably do some splits and things that people would think is pretty interesting from a 30-year old man. I'm the most flexible person I've ever met and I've met a lot of great athletes over the years who are extremely flexible. My mom was a gymnast growing up and I'm double-jointed in some areas so being flexible is...not embarrassing but being flexible, it's tough to express my flexibility but that's one talent. 

What do you like to do during your free time? I'm a big fisherman. I really enjoy fishing and I've heard there is some good fishing here. I grew where fishing and sports were my two biggest things. I have three children so now it isn't always about me and what I want to do. It's more about developing my children. It's a constant evolution of what can I do to get these kids to be the best possible version of themselves. Letting them be kids is part of that. I have a huge passion for my wife and kids but if I get a chance to do something and have a day, I go saltwater fishing.  

Favorite place you have played? I tell you what, my favorite place to pitch in the entire world is Taichung Intercontinental. I've had three of four of my best games, they've been in Taichung. I have a home also in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic where I've pitched the past five years in winter ball that is a really good place to pitch and the fans really get into it too. I come back to the fans and my favorite places to play are where the fans are really into it. 

Favorite food? The Chinese omelets here in Taiwan are top-notch! I'm a big seafood guy so lobster and scallops. I love sushi, the yakiniku and Korean BBQ, those are some of my favorites too. I'm really not picky at all so I enjoy a lot of foods but some seafood is really top-notch for me. 

Favorite movie? I will go with Baby Boss. Have you seen that? Man, it's an adult movie for kids! I'm telling you, it's really really funny. I've seen it probably 100 times with my kids but the more you see it the more you get the inside jokes. 

Favorite song or band? No, I listen to all types of music. 

Favorite book? I'm reading a good one right now called Emotional Intelligence that really has me hooked. 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I think if I could read somebody's mind, read the batter's mind, I could know what pitch they're sitting on and what pitch they don't want to see from me. 

Where is your dream vacation spot? I grew up in Florida so I grew up on the beach. I don't get a chance to get up in the mountains with a nice creek and do some river fishing. One of these days I'm going to go snowboard or ski because as baseball players, doing some extreme sports outside of baseball is tough because of the factor of maybe getting injured.

Tea or coffee? Coffee 

Rice or noodles? Rice

Mac or PC? Mac

Avengers or Justice League? Avengers

Hot weather or cold weather? Hot

Morning person or night owl? Morning for sure. 

Spend time alone or go to a party? Alone

Read a book or go hiking? Go hiking.

Run or lift? I would say lift.

Amusement park or museum? Amusement park.

#97 Mitch Lively
Born: September 7, 1985 -- United States

Height: 196 cm

Weight: 113 kg

Who has been your biggest influence as a baseball player? That would have to be my father. He's the one that introduced me to baseball and coached me throughout. He's always gone to my games and supported me so he was definitely my biggest influence and why I started playing baseball. He played college football but just really loved baseball and playing baseball and coaching baseball so that is what I excelled in. He was always out there throwing me extra batting practice or catching bullpens when I was little and never pushed me too hard. So that was always something I could do with my dad.

How about as a person? Nowadays it's my wife. She always brings out the best in me and always makes me strive for excellence and to do the best I can.

What has been the most satisfying moment of your baseball career so far? Getting Pitcher-of-the-Year in the Venezuela Winter League (2013) and also in the Mexican Winter League (2017). Those were pretty fulfilling. 

What are some expectations you have for yourself this season? My biggest expectation in any season is to stay healthy. If I'm not 100% or I'm not healthy I can't go out and compete every day. So it's to stay healthy and when they give me that ball to be able to compete every single day. Everything else will kind of just fall into place. 

What's the most difficult part of playing overseas? I've played in Japan...the hardest part for me is the way the game is played is just different. Especially when I was younger, you go over there and wonder, "Why do you do things this way or why that way?" If you question things you'll drive yourself crazy but if you just go with the flow and be that free out-going person you'll really excel and enjoy playing overseas. The countries alone are amazing. Nothing about coming over to play here, like the travel, is hard, it's more the different styles I would say is the hardest thing to adjust to. For me in Japan, they wanted the guys to hold the ball longer so I would get called balks a couple of times because I wasn't holding long enough. So that took a little bit of getting used to. 

What are your impressions of Taiwan? The food is amazing! First and foremost I love the food. The culture and the people are so nice and friendly. They will go out of their way to help you so it's been a really easy transition coming over here, especially with my wife and having a new baby, it's been really easy for us. 

If you weren't playing baseball, what do you think you would be doing? I would probably be in law enforcement somewhere. I think that being a baseball player and professional athlete you are used to that adrenaline that you can have at any second. I feel like law enforcement gives you that same kind of adrenaline. You could be sitting in your car one moment and the next thing you're in a high-speed chase! You have that adrenaline that just turns on and I feel it is something I would enjoy.  

Do you have a secret talent? Hmm...I can kick a football really far. That's what I went to college for. My longest punt is 62 yards. 

What do you like to do during your free time? I love to go fishing. It's one of my favorite things to do. Just going out and decompressing on the lake by myself or with my dad or brother. Just being away from everyday life is my go-to thing to do.

Favorite place you have played? As of right now probably Japan. Japan was the best experience I had in terms of feeling like I've made it. Playing in front of 45,000 fans so I would say Japan. 

Favorite food? Italian. I love Italian, anything. Chicken Parmesan is probably my favorite. 

Favorite movie? My wife would probably be able to tell you better than me! She knows my movies but I love comedies, so anything funny that will make me laugh. Tombstone is one of my favorite movies. That or probably Point Break, that's my favorite of all time.

Favorite song or band? Metallica. They get hard at times but a lot of guitar solos. 

Favorite book? Probably Of Mice and Men.  

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I would pick being able to fly because I hate traffic. I would want to be able to fly over traffic. 

Where is your dream vacation spot? Yeah, I actually did it. Rome, Italy. I went two years ago. I took Kirby (Mitch's wife) there for her birthday.

Tea or coffee? Tea

Rice or noodles? Noodles

Mac or PC? Mac

Avengers or Justice League? Avengers

Hot weather or cold weather? Cold weather for sure.

Morning person or night owl? I'm a morning person.

Spend time alone or go to a party? Alone with my wife with just me and her time but I like to be around people.

Read a book or go hiking? Hiking

Run or lift? Lift, I hate running!

Amusement park or museum? That's the hardest question for me. I love history and science museums but I love roller coasters. But honestly, I'd pick a museum. If I could have a roller coaster going over the Coliseum in Rome, that would be something!

BONUS QUESTION: What's with your windmill windup? When did you start using that windup and how did it develop? In 2013 I was throwing a bullpen between starts and my best friend in baseball, Roger Kieschnick, was standing in tracking pitches. So I just did it joking around with him. He loved it. He said, "You won’t do that in the next game."  So in my next start, I had a guy 0-2 and I looked at Roger who was playing left field and he said, "Do it!" So I did and struck the guy out! That’s what started the whole thing. 

#40 Zack Segovia
Born: April 11, 1983 -- United States

Height: 188 cm

Weight: 110 kg

Who has been your biggest influence as a baseball player? Probably my dad, he was helpful. He always talked about being consistent and it drove me nuts. But now that I'm older I agree that consistency is good. He would always stop at bookstores and buy books about how to teach hitting and pitching, literally in the Barnes & Noble section he would be like, "Hey, maybe this will help!" and then read it and try to teach me. But he was always about being consistent and working hard and trying your best. 

How about as a person? I would probably also say my parents but I would also say this couple I met when I was saved in 2011, Scott and Janet Willis. And we still stay in contact with them today. They are awesome. They were in a really bad accident in Chicago and they have a really long story but they really helped bring us and give us perspective on Christ. Honestly, they probably saved my marriage and saved my family. 

What has been the most satisfying moment of your baseball career so far? There are a lot of good moments. Baseball has so many ups and downs. Obviously the day I got drafted and became a professional baseball player is pretty cool. The day you actually get to the big leagues, that's really cool. Pitching for Team USA, even though I've done it seven times, every time is really really cool and different and special. Representing Taiwan and the CPBL against Samurai Japan, that was awesome and obviously winning the CPBL championship last year was really really cool. I'm just very fortunate that I can't name one and that I have many fond and special moments.  

What are some expectations you have for yourself this season? I'm just going to do my best to fit in and not change any of the Brothers' history but to be a part of it and whatever the goal is as a team, to help move forward in the right direction. 

What's the most difficult part of playing overseas? Being away from my family. Even though FaceTime is awesome it's still tough. For example, in the morning I won't do anything, I won't go to the grocery store, I won't go to the gym and I'll go after practice because the morning is the only time I can talk to my family because of the time change. 

What are your impressions of Taiwan? Taiwan is awesome. It's really crazy because it's a completely different environment. It's nothing like what I expected; however, I've really grown accustomed to it. I  know how to travel and within minutes of getting here at the first rest stop off the plane I swapped out my SIM card and had my Taiwan number back. I have the same yoyo card I used as last year and everything is so familiar. It's easy and I enjoy it, my kids enjoy it, and it's just so safe. 

If you weren't playing baseball, what do you think you would be doing? I have no idea...probably talking a lot somewhere but I don't think there's a professional talker. I don't know, probably coaching or something like that. 

Do you have a secret talent? It's not a secret that I talk a lot, I'm a really good talker! It's not a secret that I like the night market but I'm very good at night market games and I have boxes of toys to prove it. 

What do you like to do during your free time?  The night market. And I like playing golf although I've only played a couple of times here so I'm really looking forward to playing golf here in Taichung because a lot of guys on our team like to play. But obviously, I like the night market so I can't wait to get to them here in Taichung. 

Favorite place you have played? I've played in so many places it's crazy. Playing against Cuba in Cuba was one of the coolest experiences. There were 44,000 people there and probably only the 25 Americans on the team and the six guys from Guantanamo Bay, so that makes 44,969 people cheering against us, that was one of the most incredible experiences. To be there and play in that game and beat them, that's something that was extremely special.   

Favorite food? I would probably say BBQ. I like BBQ and I like Mexican food so I'm really grateful that I've finally talked my wife into moving back to Texas. Because now I can get BBQ food and Mexican food right there in San Antonio. 

Favorite movie? I don't really have one, I like a lot of movies. I watch pretty much anything so no, I don't have a favorite movie. 

Favorite song or band? I listen to a large amount of Christian music so I like Toby Mac, I like Lacrae, and Hillsong so not necessarily anything specific.

Favorite book? Other than the Bible I pretty much read anything. 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I would want to be Superman because he's invincible. So that's everything that Superman has...that's flying, laser eyesight, super speed, and super strength. So that's not a superpower but I would want to be Superman. 

Where is your dream vacation spot? Home. I've literally played in nine different countries and we're building a house this year so when that's done, home will be my vacation spot. 

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Rice or noodles? Probably noodles as long as it's the good Japanese noodles.

Mac or PC? Mac

Avengers or Justice League? Superman is the best; however, Ironman and the Avengers are so much better so Avengers as a whole but Superman as an individual. 

Hot weather or cold weather?  Hot

Morning person or night owl? I would probably say morning person but I literally don't sleep so I'm an all day, as hard as you can go for as long as you can go person and then I just stop completely. So I can fully function for two to three straight days and then I'm out of commission for 30 hours and it's like pai-seh (sorry in Taiwanese)!  

Spend time alone or go to a party? Clearly, I like people, the more people the better until I just can't physically stand them anymore and then I just have to go be by myself.

Read a book or go hiking? Obviously, a book because I don't have my internet yet!

Run or lift? Run. The day after I pitch I enjoy running and if I have my headphones in, two to three days a week before I came out here I would go run three miles around this hospital and Target back in Texas. But now my headphones are broken so probably lift!

Amusement park or museum? Amusement park, I like roller coasters.