Lyle Lin is making history. The catcher from JSerra High became the first Taiwanese-born player to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, according to The China Post.

Lin was chosen in the 16th round, 477th overall, by the Seattle Mariners in the third and final day of the 2016 Draft on June 11.

“It’s definitely an honor. I’m really thankful,” said Lin, who is visiting Taiwan until August, when he will return to the States to play for Arizona State.

“My parents, my family, said for a couple days in the news in Taiwan that there were newspaper articles and even things on the radio of me being drafted,” Lin said. “They were really proud. I’m just really happy my parents are proud of me.”

As a senior this past season, Lin helped JSerra finish 27-7 and reach the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I state playoffs. He was named a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game honorable mention All-American.

“I think Lyle’s one of the best catchers in Southern California, if not the state of California,” Lions coach Brett Kay said. “He ended up being one of the best catchers that this program has ever seen.”

Which says a lot considering former JSerra catcher Austin Hedges is now playing for the San Diego Padres.

Lions right-hander Collin Quinn echoed Kay. “I could only hope I ever pitch to a catcher as good as he is, because it’s just ridiculous. He’s one of those kids you only pitch to once in a lifetime.”

Growing up in Taipei, Tawain, the 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound Lin discovered baseball at a young age, as he’d watch his father toss a ball around. One day, Lin saw the sport on television and felt a hunger to play, too.

Soon after joining a team near his home, he grew attached to the sport. “Baseball makes my day,” Lin said. “I just love baseball. I love playing with teammates. We win and we lose together.”

“A baseball player,” Lin said. “That was what I wanted to be.”

Lin visited Southern California once a year while his older sister attended UC Santa Barbara. As a freshman in high school, he decided to move to pursue an education as well as baseball opportunities.

He and his mother flew to Orange County to check out potential schools, eventually choosing JSerra over Orange Lutheran and Mater Dei. He liked San Juan Capistrano and Kay’s coaching philosophy.

Then 15 and a sophomore, he stayed with a host family for his first season. The transition was difficult, as he had to sit out 30 days due to transfer rules and adapt to new surroundings and a new language.

Lin called his sophomore year a “learning year.”

“It was really tough,” Lin said. “You don’t know the language. Everything’s different. I kept telling myself that I have to improve every day.”

“As a catcher, I have to communicate with the pitchers and call the pitches. I have to communicate with the coaches, pitchers, infielders, to everyone, so I pushed myself to learn English. I improved every day,” he said.

Lin grew closer to his teammates, who became like his brothers, he said. He became one of the most outgoing players on the team, especially with his humor. Once he brought his pet turtle, Marcus, to JSerra’s playoff game. Marcus sat in a Ziplock container, filled with water, in the dugout.

Lin became the teammate that could cheer up anyone.

“You never stop laughing when you’re around him,” Quinn said. “He’s a funny kid, a really good guy, we all kind of love him. He’s always smiling, he’s always super-happy. Even when something goes wrong, he’s there and he’s working hard to change it.”

His game improved each season, as he flourished by his junior and senior years. He was named second-team All-Trinity League as well as third-team All-Orange County. Lin was also named to the California All-Region second team by Perfect Game.

“He became a lot more comfortable in his own skin,” Kay said. “Everything he did, you could see him start to break out of that shell, not only from a baseball perspective but from a student-athlete perspective, and all things Lyle.”

Lin is working out daily in preparation for ASU. He aims to be a better hitter and to get stronger and bigger in the weight room. He’s also enjoying being back home.

“I’m just really happy to see my old friends and my family and my parents, and just share with them about the baseball here, the school year, just share it all with them,” Lin said. “I’m enjoying this.”

Contact the writer: mfader@ocregister.com