TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese baseball player Wang Po-jung (王柏融), captain of the TSG Hawks (台鋼雄鷹), revealed on Monday (Jan. 13) that he declined an invitation to join the Taiwan national team for the World Baseball Classic (世界棒球經典賽) qualifiers. Prioritizing his commitment to the TSG Hawks, Wang aims to lead his team into the playoffs by focusing solely on the upcoming season.
During the TSG Hawks' opening season ceremony, Wang confirmed he received an inquiry from the national team's coaching staff about participating in the qualifiers. He expressed delight at the opportunity, acknowledging it as a dream for any player. However, he emphasized his current focus on adapting to the team after returning to Taiwan last year.
Wang, one of the few veterans on the team, highlighted his responsibility as captain. "This is only the second year for the TSG Hawks in the top league. If I participate in the qualifiers, there might not be any senior players here," he said. Wang hopes the international stage will allow younger talents to shine.
Reflecting on his finger injury in late September 2024, which sidelined him from the Premier12 tournament, Wang assured fans his injury is no longer an issue. Although he has not considered this year's classic, he remains dedicated to leading his younger teammates. Wang previously participated in the 2015 and 2019 Premier12 tournaments and the 2023 Classic. Meanwhile, other TSG Hawks players, including Wu Nien-ting (吳念庭), Tseng Tzu-yu (曾子祐), and Wang Po-hsuan (王博玄), already expressed interest in the qualifiers.
