The sagging economy made it awfully difficult for Nic Ungs to explore free-agent opportunities this winter.
While most Major League Baseball teams slashed payroll budgets at the minor league level in anticipation of slower revenue streams this summer, Ungs found no solid offers. He even considered a pay cut and a demotion from Triple-A.
Instead of giving up on his dream, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound right-handed pitcher from Dyersville, Iowa, opted to play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League for the Brother Elephants, a Taipei-based team named for a local hotel. Ungs played briefly in Taipei at the end of the 2007 season.
"One thing I've learned throughout my career is you have to take the opportunities as they come," said Ungs, a 2001 draft pick of the Florida Marlins. "I'm not going to feel sorry for myself about not being signed. I'm just going to focus all of my attention on having the best year possible for the Brother Elephants, and we'll go from there.
"I still get to play the game I love for my job. I consider it a blessing
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On the second-to-last day of his 2007 season at Triple-A Albuquerque, Ungs received a phone call from a former teammate who played for the Brother Elephants. Todd Moser asked Ungs if he would be interested in playing the final month of the CPBL season in Taipei.
The Brother Elephants experienced several injuries to key pitchers, and rainouts extended the season. Taipei club officials extended him an offer, so he secured a 30-day work visa.
He leaves for Taipei on Feb. 27, and the CPBL season begins roughly three weeks later.
"The fact that I've been over there already made the decision a whole lot easier," Ungs said. "I"m sure there will still be a lot to get used to, but at least I have a feel for what I'm getting into. Most of the guys I played with over there are still around and I have a feel for the culture, so it's not like I'm going over there cold turkey.
"The one thing that takes getting used to is the fact that we're on the 'A List' over there because we're big leaguers. Taipei is a lot like New York City and you get the royal treatment. It's unbelievable how well they treat you over there."
Ungs, 29, experienced the most-difficult season of his career last summer, his first in the Milwaukee Brewers organization after seven years with the Marlins.
Ungs threw five innings of shutout ball on April 6 in his debut with the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. But, over the next nine innings covering three starts, he surrendered 20 earned runs and lost twice.
The Brewers then discovered an imbalance in the strength between the front and rear of his shoulder capsule. He spent the month of June rehabilitating the problem.
Being on the disabled list became the least of his worries. Ungs' mother, Jane, passed away in early July after an eight-year battle with cancer.
The Brewers assigned Ungs to Double-A Huntsville when he came off the disabled list. Ungs then went 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 46 innings over seven starts to earn a return to Nashville.
"Nic does all of the things a big league pitcher is capable of doing," said Stan Kyles, his pitching coach at Nashville who has since been promoted to the Brewers staff. "He keeps his fastball down in the zone, he's got great command of his off-speed stuff. He throws them for strikes. And he does it with poise.
"I definitely think Nic has a future in the game. Not just at the Triple-A level. I think he can help a major league team."
That's why Ungs didn't want to walk away from the game after receiving little interest from big league organizations. He can still make a good living by playing baseball.
In Taipei, the Brother Elephants will pay for the majority of his expenses. His contract includes several incentives for playing winning baseball.
"Last year was definitely not the way I wanted to go out," Ungs said. "It wasn't like I couldn't compete. When I was healthy, my numbers were as solid as they've been throughout my career.
"When I get to the point in my career where I feel like I'm overmatched, I'll walk out with my head held high. I know I can still compete. It's just unfortunate with the economy the way it is, there are a lot of guys still looking for jobs, and spring training starts this week."
That includes more than 100 established big leaguers, including Manny Ramirez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Ray Durham.
"What you're going to see a lot of is organizations pushing high-end draft picks through their systems a lot faster, just because they have money invested in them," Ungs said. "Instead of giving them time to develop in the minor leagues, they're going to try to develop them in the big leagues."
