Nick Additon

Source: tw.appledaily.com

Nick Additon re-signed with the Chinatrust Brothers this season. Technically in is his fourth season with the Brothers, Additon came to Taiwan in 2016 for the end of the season and attended spring training the following year but he decided to sign with the Lotte Giants at KBO for the remainder of the 2017 season. He returned last year playing for the Brothers for his first full season. Now he is back for his fourth season in the CPBL.

Additon is a father of three children. It’s tough for him when his family is not with him during the season. Fortunately, his family will be staying in Taiwan for the season. “It’s very hard to be separated,” Additon said. “As long as my family can be supportive, I am very happy to play baseball.” Additon also said his family enjoys it here in Taiwan. It’s a great opportunity for his kids to learn some Chinese. His wife is an adventurer so she enjoys traveling to other countries.

A Trackman system was set up in Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium and Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium last year. “I am definitely interested in these things,” Additon said. “Mainly the things that can help me like spin. Like in April if my curveball is spinning really fast and come July, the curveball loses a little bit of quickness and spin, I can look at it and ask am I tired? Or am I doing something different mechanically? I will breakdown the video seeing the differences of my mechanics and my release point to try to fix these things.”

Every year teams are trying to find the best international players in the world. For example, there are a lot of new faces this year like Henry Sosa (Guardians), Eric Wood (Brothers), Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Lions), and Radhames Liz (Monkeys). There are always players all over the world trying to find jobs overseas. CPBL would be one of the options for them. Since Addition has plenty of experience here in Taiwan, he would definitely have a lot of advice to offer. “Put up high numbers in the high minor leagues,” Additon said. “The teams in this league are not just going to pick somebody who is doing OK in A-ball or Double A, they are looking for the best talent in the world.”