TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's national baseball team is gearing up for the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, set to begin Feb. 21. Team Taiwan manager Tseng Hao-ju (曾豪駒) confirmed that Lin Chia-cheng (林家正), a player from the Premier12 championship team, is on the roster, a local media reported on Thursday (Jan. 16).
However, Tseng confirmed that Lin's health remains a concern after he injured his right wrist during the championship game. "We have indeed considered him, but the only concern is his health, and we will continue to monitor his condition," Tseng told the ETtoday Sports Cloud (ETtoday運動雲).
The roster includes 10 local pitchers, four catchers, seven infielders, and four outfielders, with some players also coming from overseas. Tseng emphasized that the team consulted with both the players and their clubs. "Everyone expressed willingness, but the list has undergone slight adjustments," he noted, indicating the dynamic nature of the selection process.
Tseng announced adjustments to the 35-player roster, including nine overseas pitchers among the 19 selected. The team will start training on Feb. 3, with six to seven practice games scheduled before the official matches. As the team prepares for the qualifiers, Tseng and his staff will continue to evaluate the players' conditions, especially those overseas, to ensure they are ready for the competition.
