World Baseball Classic: Team Chinese Taipei Roster News, Notes, and Analysis
Team Chinese Taipei aims to advance from pool play for the first time since 2013 in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
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Baseball fans are about to be spoiled. Spring training is right around the corner and the World Baseball Classic is returning in March. Three years ago, we witnessed some of the purest, most electric baseball ever played, and now 20 countries will battle for the title of best in the world.
Team Chinese Taipei’s last appearance showcased both highs and lows. After dropping their opening game in Pool A to Panama, they went on to beat Italy and the Netherlands. Unfortunately, after a 7-1 loss to Cuba, the club was eliminated from pool play due to a tiebreaker, despite finishing 2-2.
This time around, Chinese Taipei aims to advance from pool play for the first time since 2013. However, they have the daunting task of advancing from Pool C. Their pool includes a good South Korea squad and last tournament’s winner, Japan.
The team’s rosters and coaches were recently announced. Let’s learn more about this Chinese Taipei squad and names to look out for.
World Baseball Classic: Team Chinese Taipei Roster
Position Players
| Catchers | Infielders | Outfielders |
| Shao-Hung Chiang | Yu Chang | Chen-Wei Chen |
| Kungkuan Giljegiljaw | Tsung-Che Cheng | Chieh-Hsien Chen |
| Lyle Lin | Kun-Yu Chiang | Stuart Fairchild |
| Hao-Yu Lee | An-Ko Lin | |
| Tzu-Wei Lin | ||
| Jonathan Long | ||
| Nien-Ting Wu |
Catcher is a weak spot for most teams in the WBC, but that isn’t the case for Chinese Taipei.
Kungkuan Giljegiljaw is returning and has put together quite a career in the CPBL. He has led the league in home runs in 2022 and 2023, was the RBI leader in 2025, and has been named an All-Star for four straight seasons.
Yu Chang will slide in at second base and will have to live up to astronomical expectations after his 2023 performance. Chang batted .483 with eight RBIs, two doubles, and two homers. Most memorable was his grand slam against the Netherlands, earning him the MVP of Pool A.
Chang has some major league experience, the latest in 2023 for Boston. He is the team’s captain, and there is no doubt the team will lean on him once again.
Filling out the rest of the infield will be a combination of Tsung-Che Cheng, Hao-Yu Lee, and Nien-Ting Wu.
Cheng is a light-hitting shortstop who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system. He briefly made his major-league debut in 2025 but was sent down after three games. Later in the season, he was designated for assignment by the Nationals, but he is the only current big-league player.
Former Tigers top prospect Lee provides much-needed slug to Chinese Taipei’s lineup. He accumulated 45 extra-base hits across 126 games in Triple-A last season and offers defensive versatility. Expect Lee to slot somewhere on the diamond and hit in the heart of the lineup.
Playing third base for Chinese Taipei in 2023 was Wu. Coming off a strong year in the CPBL, slashing .328/.400/.407 and is a reliable defensive utilityman. Another wrinkle to Wu’s game is his threat on the bases, stealing 50 bases last season, which makes him invaluable.
Of the outfielders, Chieh Hsien Chen is the name to know.
Chen plays for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in the CPBL and has a decorated career, earning seven Best Ten awards and three Gold Glove awards. The Best Ten award recognizes the top player at each position. Chen captained Chinese Taipei to their first Premier 12 title and was named the MVP.
It will be fun to watch one of the top CPBL players on the world stage.
Pitching Staff
| Starters | Relievers |
| Wei-En Lin | Jyun-Yue Tseng |
| Ruei-Yang Gu Lin | Chen Kuan-Yu |
| Yu-Min Lin | Lin Shih-Hsiang |
| Hsu Jo-hsi | Tzu-Chen Sha |
| Po-Yu Chen | Yi-Lei Sun |
Headlining the team’s rotation is Ruei-Yang Gu Lin, who currently pitches in NPB with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Gu Lin’s fastball touches 98 mph and is the most polished pitcher on the roster. He’s coming off back-to-back strong seasons, a 2024 CPBL MVP, and a 2.94 ERA in NPB.
Yu-Min Lin is the Arizona Diamondbacks’ No. 24 prospect and possesses the highest MLB upside among the group. The changeup is his best pitch, contributing to his 9.8 K/9 throughout the minors.
Hsu Jo-hsi brings frontline velocity to the rotation, sitting 95–96 mph with a fastball that explodes at the top of the zone. When healthy, he pairs it with a sharp breaking ball that misses bats against both righties and lefties. His experience between CPBL and time with NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks gives him a composure edge in international play.
Jyun-Yue Tseng profiles as the bullpen’s anchor. A proven CPBL closer, he attacks hitters with power stuff and doesn’t shy away from late-inning leverage. His swing-and-miss ability makes him the most reliable option in high-leverage situations.
Yi-Lei Sun adds another power arm to the relief corps. Currently pitching with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, he’s accustomed to facing high-level competition. His ability to generate whiffs makes him a strong bridge option in tight games.
Coaching and Administrative Staff
| Role | Coach/Executive |
| Manager | Hao-Jiu Tseng |
| Batting Coach | Cheng-Min Peng |
| Batting Coach | Kuo-Hui Kao |
| Pitching Coach | Yueh-Ping Lin |
| First Base Coach/Outfield Coach | Chien-Ming Chang |
| Third Base Coach | Chiang-Ho Chen |
| Bench/Catching Coach | Chih-Kang Kao |
| Bullpen Coach | Chien-Ming Wang |
Hao-Jiu Tseng is a former Taiwanese professional baseball player turned manager who has become one of the most prominent figures in the country’s modern baseball scene. Tseng played as an outfielder in the CPBL and transitioned to coaching soon after his playing days ended.
He has served as manager of Chinese Taipei’s national team, guiding the program to global prominence, including a championship win at the WBSC Premier12 in 2024. His success and steady leadership earned him continued trust within Taiwan’s baseball community, including a managerial role for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
World Classic Baseball Schedule: Team Chinese Taipei
Pool Play
Team Chinese Taipei is a member of Pool C, which will play from March 4 to 10 at the famous Tokyo Dome. Competing alongside them are Team Japan, Team Australia, Team South Korea, and Team Czechia.
| Date | Oppenent | Start Time |
| March 4 | @ Australia | 10:00 pm ET / 11:00 pm AT |
| March 6 | vs. Japan | 5:00 am ET / 6:00 am AT |
| March 6 | @ Czechia | 10:00 pm ET / 11:00 pm AT |
| March 7 | @ South Korea | 10:00 pm ET / 11:00 pm AT |
Knockout Rounds
| Round | Date | Stadium | Start Time |
| Quarterfinal | March 13 or 14, 2026 | loanDepot Park, Miami | TBA |
| Semifinal | March 15 or 16, 2026 | loanDepot Park, Miami | 8:00 pm ET |
| Final | March 17, 2026 | loanDepot Park, Miami | 8:00 pm ET |
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Written by
Ethan is an aspiring sports analyst who has a passion for all sports. He was a collegiate baseball player and is now finishing up his schooling…