TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's national baseball team is set to face Spain this Friday (Feb. 21), in their opening match of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Qualifiers. Spain, ranked 24th by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), recently overpowered Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, 中華職棒) team, the TSG Hawks, with an 11-1 victory in a warm-up game. This win highlights Spain's prowess and familiarity with Taiwan's batting style, bolstered by former CPBL pitcher Elian Leyva on their roster.
To secure a spot in the WBC, Taiwan must triumph over Spain, South Africa, and Nicaragua in the group qualifiers, aiming for three consecutive wins. Chen Tzu-hao (陳子豪), a prominent player from Taiwan, expressed hope for clinching the final ticket. Taiwan's 28-man roster boasts international talent, including Lin Wei-en (林維恩) from the Oakland Athletics, Chen Po-yu (陳柏毓) of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Japanese league pitchers Sun Yi-lei (孫易磊) and Shosei Takahashi (徐翔聖).
The lineup also features MLB veterans like Yu Chang (張育成) and Lin Tzu-wei (林子偉), as well as Wu Nien-ting (吳念庭), who has seven years of experience in Japan's professional league. Lin Dung-wei (林東緯), a sports broadcaster, emphasized the importance of consistent offensive output and accuracy in scoring. Nicaragua, ranked 16th, poses a significant threat, having defeated Tokyo Gas 8-2 in a warm-up game. Their standout player, Emanuel Trujillo, impressed with a three-home-run game against Panama in the Series of Americas, earning MVP honors.
Taiwan will face South Africa next on Saturday, ranked 31st, who recently suffered a 19-7 loss to the TSG Hawks. Despite South Africa's lack of MLB experience, Dylan Unsworth, a former CPBL player, could present a challenge to Taiwan, necessitating a steady performance. Fans eagerly await the outcome as Taiwan strives for WBC qualification.
