Taiwan National Baseball Team Adjusts Roster After Tsung-Che Cheng MLB Promotion

Roster Adjustments Following MLB and Injury Concerns

The selection process for the Taiwan national team has hit a transition point as the organization balances the availability of high-profile professional talent with the realities of international schedules. According to reporting from LTN, the inclusion of infielder Tsung-Che Cheng—who was scouted while playing in the minor leagues—has become complicated following his recent promotion to the MLB.

The roster is also contending with injuries, most notably concerning pitcher Hsu Jo-hsi. Coach Tang noted that the team has no intention of forcing injured players to compete. While the final replacement has not been confirmed, there is a greater than 70% probability that an amateur pitcher will be called up to fill the spot, building on the recent performance of the national training team at the Haarlem Baseball Week.

Professional League Contributions and Team Support

Beyond the challenges of managing overseas talent, the national team is drawing heavily from the domestic Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). As detailed by LTN, the association initially aimed to limit support requests to one player per CPBL club to minimize disruptions to the domestic league schedule.

The current roster includes five players from CPBL organizations, with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions providing the most support to the national effort.

• Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions: Two players (outfielder Chu Chia-en and catcher Chang Hsiang)
• Wei Chuan Dragons: One player (Liu Chi-hung)
• CTBC Brothers: One player (Huang Wei-sheng)
• Rakuten Monkeys: One player (Chen Chen-wei)

Coach Tang expressed gratitude toward the clubs for their cooperation, particularly the Lions for their contribution of two players. The coordination process was not without its hurdles; attempts to recruit players from the Fubon Guardians and TSG Hawks were unsuccessful, with those slots ultimately left vacant rather than filled by other players from those organizations.

Strategic Rationale for Professional Integration

While the national team relies on amateur players for depth, the technical staff views the inclusion of professional veterans as a necessary component for sustained success during international competition. Tang emphasized that while amateur athletes can perform well in isolated games, the depth provided by seasoned professionals is critical for tournament endurance.

The association continues to navigate the complex logistics of finalizing the roster ahead of the Asian Games. With the baseball association currently managing the transition of these personnel files, the team’s ultimate composition remains subject to ongoing negotiations between the league offices and the individual professional clubs involved.

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