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The Yankees Now Have A Wang And A Zhang

Zhenwang Zhang To The Yankees

Open the floodgates. First it was Japan, then South Korea…could China become the next Far East outlet for American baseball prospects? The New York Yankees seem to think so. Even though the Yankees are not officially the first MLB team to hire a Chinese born baseball player, they are the first club to have the Chinese baseball association’s approval.

The New York Yankees have signed Kai Liu (19-year-old left-handed pitcher) and Zhenwang Zhang (19-year-old catcher), making them the 2nd and 3rd Chinese baseball emigrants [Yankees sign two Chinese teenagers]. The terms of the deals have not been disclosed. Wang Chao was the first Chinese baseball player to migrate to the U.S. in 2002 when he signed with the Mariners.

By bargaining with the Chinese baseball association instead of going around the organization, the Yankees have now established a relationship that the Mariners lack. The Yankees now have the trust of China baseball and may look to bring more prospects to the United States in the near future. One thing is certain: Liu and Zhang will not be the last Chinese baseball players to make their way to the U.S. This is yet another area that sports agents can scout and hope to attain future clients in.

Think about this…the Yankees are the biggest market team in America. China is the largest emerging market. The MLB is looking to play some games in China next year. The Yankees want to be one of the teams that plays in China next year. The Olympics will be held in Beijing, China next year, and baseball is supposed to once again be a recognized sport. I think that this is a smart move by the Yankees, and you may see other teams following suit.

-Darren Heitner

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on “The Yankees Now Have A Wang And A Zhang”

Like almost all types of business if you do not look globally you will never keep up. Good for the Yankees getting a head start and more importantly good for baseball as a whole.

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