World No. 2 Chinese Taipei and No. 5 United States lost in their Super Round debut at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS. They need a victory to keep their hopes of competing for the title intact.
American manager Mike Scioscia believes Chinese Taipei is a dangerous team.
“I have not had the opportunity to see them in person, but I have studied them on video. They are a solid team, but very aggressive. They play with the small ball, touch the ball and can run. They have many aggressive players. We continue to aspire to a title Premier12, but we will have to play better than against Japan.”
Scioscia will hand the ball to right-hander Zac Grotz, a 31-year-old veteran who played in 19 Major League Baseball (MLB) games for the Seattle Mariners between 2019 and 2020 and started 14 games for the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League. of Baseball (LMB). He started against Venezuela in the Opening Round, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing one run.
“I told the players that they had to use their energy to rest and recover. There is nothing we can change in the result of the match against Venezuela. None of them have responsibilities. The only person responsible for the defeats is the manager,” said the Chinese Taipei captain Hao-Jiu Tseng. “Venezuela is a strong team. We will have to play at our best level.”
Tseng chose left-hander Po-Ching Chen as his starter. The 26-year-old started 18 games for the TSG Hawks of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), posting a 3.53 earned run average (ERA) and a 6-10 record. He started the game against Japan during the Opening Round, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing two runs.
The United States and Chinese Taipei have met internationally 22 times since 2011 with the United States recording the last head-to-head meeting in 2023. Chinese Taipei defeated the United States, 3-0, in the Super Round of the U-18 Baseball World Cup. The United States defeated Chinese Taipei, 3-2, in the Super Round of the 2019 WBSC Premier12.
