TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Rakuten Monkeys (樂天桃猿隊) confirmed Tseng Hao-ju (曾豪駒) as general manager on Monday (Dec. 15), unveiling their complete coaching roster for the upcoming Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, 中華職棒) season. Tseng, who led Team Chinese Taipei, Taiwan's national baseball team, to victory in last year's WBSC Premier12, will also serve as the national team's manager in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). The reappointment signals continuity for one of Taiwan's most successful professional baseball franchises.
Masayuki Morii (森井誠之), acting CEO of the Rakuten Monkeys, praised Tseng's deep understanding of the team, noting his tenure as general manager since 2020. Morii highlighted Tseng's achievements, including leading Team Chinese Taipei to a WBSC Premier12 championship in 2024 and guiding the Monkeys to a league championship this year. The dual accomplishments underscore Tseng's reputation as one of Taiwan's premier baseball strategists.
Tseng expressed gratitude for the team's trust, stating his commitment to working alongside the talented players to achieve the best results in the new season. The manager recently traveled to the United States to participate in official WBC activities and enhance communication with Major League Baseball (MLB) officials. This effort aims to streamline the recruitment and administrative processes for Team Taiwan ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), Commissioner of the CPBL, confirmed Thursday (Dec. 11) that all 43 players on the preliminary roster have expressed their willingness to participate in the WBC. However, numerous technical details still need coordination with MLB for specific teams in the league, as the recruitment involves MLB players under new regulations. The coordination process reflects Taiwan's growing integration into international professional baseball structures. ◼