TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲), captain of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, 中華職棒) team, affirmed his commitment to the league on Wednesday (Nov. 21), despite opportunities to play abroad. His performance in the WBSC Premier 12 tournament has drawn attention from international media, highlighting his leadership skills.
Jon Morosi, a reporter from MLB Network, interviewed Chen in Tokyo and praised his MLB-level talent. Through a translator, Chen said, "If I were younger, I would definitely make that my goal, to reach MLB and make everyone in Taiwan proud." His statement underscores his dedication to Taiwanese baseball. The Chinese Taipei team advanced to Tokyo with a second-place finish in Group B. Chen's past includes studying at Okayamaken Kyousei High School (岡山縣共生高中) in Japan, where he applied to Japanese professional baseball but failed.
Upon returning to Taiwan, Chen played for the amateur Taipower (台灣電力棒球隊) team before joining the UNILIONS (統一7-ELEVEN獅) in the CPBL. Japanese media noted Chen's friendly interactions with media and fans before the Taiwan-Japan match, showcasing his recognized leadership within the team. Chen's commitment to his team and country remains unwavering as the tournament progresses, hinting at future successes on and off the field.