TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese baseball star Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) has turned down an invitation to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Chicago White Sox's Taiwan Day celebration, a high-profile opportunity that would have showcased the island's baseball talent on an international stage. Chen announced his decision Wednesday (June 11), emphasizing that his priorities remain squarely with his domestic team's performance during Taiwan's competitive baseball season, regardless of their recent game results.
The Unilions (統一7-ELEVEN獅), one of Taiwan's premier professional baseball teams, released a joint statement with Chen's agency, Jemmy Marketing Co., Ltd. (仁茂國際行銷有限公司), and the event organizers confirming the player's withdrawal from the American showcase. The statement provided background on the Team Taiwan Foundation, describing it as a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Taiwanese cultural exchange and fostering community engagement among the Taiwanese diaspora in North America.
According to the statement, the invitation for Chen to participate in the ceremonial first pitch originated from the Team Taiwan Foundation in late 2024. After extensive negotiations, a formal tripartite agreement was reached between the player, his team, and the foundation, with a binding contract signed in April 2025. The foundation had committed to covering all expenses related to Chen's travel and appearance at the Major League Baseball event. Officials emphasized that the proposal had originated from the foundation itself and had been approved following detailed consultations involving Chen's representation and his team's management.
After what was described as thorough communication between all parties and careful evaluation of his professional commitments, Chen ultimately decided to withdraw from the international appearance. His decision would stand regardless of how his team performs in upcoming games, according to the statement. The Unilions management expressed their intention to conduct a comprehensive review of the entire invitation process and the subsequent discussions, aiming to establish clearer protocols that would prevent similar communication breakdowns and public relations challenges from occurring in the future. ◼