TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Chinese Taipei national baseball team announced a revamped 35-player roster on Wednesday (Dec. 11) for the upcoming World Baseball Classic qualifying round. Only Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲), the captain from the Premier12 tournament, remains from the previous lineup. Team Taiwan manager Tseng Hao-ju (曾豪駒) and his coaching staff finalized the roster, reflecting a significant shift in team composition. They aim to ensure players' well-being by allowing adequate rest between events.
CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) emphasized the importance of rest for players, saying, "All players from the Premier12 had a late shutdown time, and if they participate in the Classic, the start-up time is earlier, affecting their health and careers." He added that the changes aim to let players rest properly. Tsai noted that they initially planned to rest Chen, but his strong sense of duty and commitment made his inclusion inevitable. He thanks Chen for his dedication and believes he is a suitable candidate for the captaincy in the qualifiers. The final decision will rest with the head coach and coaching team.
The CPBL still needs to discuss with the players' clubs due to scheduling overlaps between the qualifiers and spring training. Tsai assured that the committee considered players' willingness, health, and club usage rules when forming the roster.
