CLEVELAND -- Things have been going so well with one pitcher named Lee that the Indians have brought another into the fold.

And they had to go all the way to Taiwan to get him.

The Tribe once again dipped into the international waters and signed Taiwanese right-hander Chen-Chang Lee to a Minor League deal Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not announced.

A candidate for next spring's World Baseball Classic, Lee will report to the Tribe's fall instructional league in Goodyear, Ariz., this week, and he'll likely begin his professional career at Class A Kinston next season.

Lee, 21, recently finished his junior year at Taipei Physical Education College and was a member of Taiwan's national team that participated in the Beijing Olympic Games, going 0-1 with 2.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in nine innings.

"We've known him since he was 16," Indians assistant general manager of scouting operations John Mirabelli said. "We tried to sign him when he was 16, and he decided to go to college. It paid off big time for him. He made his mark internationally."

The 5-foot-7, 176-pound Lee made a name for himself in his native land when he held Cuba to a run on two hits over eight innings in a victory at the 2006 World University Baseball Championships. He also pitched in the Alaska Baseball League, which includes college players from around the world, in 2007.

With his sidearm delivery, Lee throws a sinker, slider and split-finger. His fastball reportedly reaches up to 94 mph.

Because of his delivery style, Lee probably profiles best as a reliever, Mirabelli said.

"With him using that arm slot, it's hard to project a lot of upside as a starter," Mirabelli said. "I think his future is clearly in the bullpen."

Mirabelli projected that Lee, if eligible for the Draft, would have been a third- or fourth-round pick, based on his college experience and raw stuff. The Indians feel he can rise quickly through their Minor League system, especially considering he'll likely work in relief.

Lee, who was given a tour of Progressive Field on Tuesday, was sought after by several teams, including clubs in Japan. Mirabelli said Lee could have made twice as much money signing with a Japanese team, but he wanted to come here.

"It's a better opportunity to play in the States," Lee said through an interpreter. "That's why I wanted to come to America."

Mirabelli confirmed three other international signings by the Tribe: third baseman Giovanny Urshella from Columbia, shortstop Jose Ozoria from the Dominican Republic and catcher Alex Monsalve from Venezuela. All three players are 16 years old, Mirabelli said.