For the first time in Chinese Taipei baseball history, the world’s No. 2 team maintained the lead and won the champion title in one of the highest-level international tournaments. Chinese Taipei defeated Japan, 4-0, in the final of the 2024 WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS, surpassing their best record from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where they won the silver medal.
“To be honest, this result is not something we would have anticipated,” said Chieh-Hsien Chen, the Chinese Taipei captain.
Chen hit .625 with two home runs and 6 RBI during the tournament and was named MVP of the 2024 WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS.
And after clinching Chinese Taipei’s first international title at senior level on Sunday, the 30-year-old star expressed his optimism about how his team will benefit and use the victory to compete more regularly for international tournament honors in the future. .
“From the first day in camp, our goal has been the same: believe in each other and play as a team. We are a very close-knit team and no matter the results, we take it as a team,” Chen said after Chinese Taipei claimed the world baseball title.
“This championship will definitely boost the confidence of our baseball people,” Chen added. “In the past, we weren’t always so confident when we faced those elite teams from the world’s superpowers. From now on, our confidence level will increase as we believe we can compete with the best teams in the world.”
Chen, a native of the southern city of Kaohsiung, began his baseball career in elementary school. After graduating from high school, Chen went to Japan to study and play baseball at Kyousei High School in Okayama. Chen returned to Taiwan after going undrafted in the NPB draft and joined the Tai Power amateur baseball club.
“When I was in Japan, I learned to play baseball as a team and not individually. I was very impressed with my schoolmates and teammates and how dedicated they are to putting the team first,” Chen said. “If I were younger, I would have made Major League Baseball my goal because I want the world to know about baseball in Taiwan.”
Chen was subsequently drafted by the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the CPBL in 2016. Issues with defense and injuries during Chen’s first few seasons as a professional led to his mediocre performance, and it was not until 2020, when his manager He was sent to the outfield by Yueh-Ping Lin, who was able to solidify his position in the team. With two other outfielders, Chih-Chieh Su and An-Ko Lin, the trio received the nickname “Outfield Ghosts” and have been the core of the Lions’ lineup ever since.
Even Chen started this Premier12 at a slower pace, especially during the exhibition matches, where he did not perform at the expected level. However, as team captain, Chen was able to adapt quickly and hit a two-run home run in the first game against Korea before hitting his only other home run in the decisive act of his career in the finals, displaying the typical leadership skills of any captain.
“I think the reason the manager chose me to be the captain is because he wanted me to do the same thing he had been doing with the Lions,” Chen said. “I once thought I was nobody and I never imagined we could win the world championship. From now on, Chinese Taipei baseball players can walk with their heads and chests high.”
