TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions (統一獅) center fielder Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) was named captain of Chinese Taipei's (中華隊) baseball team Thursday (Jan. 15). Training camp opened in Kaohsiung for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), a major international baseball tournament. Manager Tseng Hao-chu (曾豪駒) selected Chen, citing his leadership during the WBSC Premier12 tournament where he led the team to victory.
Chen acknowledged his physical condition remains manageable, stating mindset is what can be controlled when facing challenges. He aims to complete training in good health and secure a roster spot to compete for the nation. Chen plans to maintain a positive team atmosphere as overseas players arrive, who face diverse restrictions when joining the national team.
Chen emphasized the captaincy as a representative role, focusing on fulfilling player responsibilities rather than the title itself. He urged players to concentrate on field performance, undistracted by social media noise and external pressures. Chen expressed eagerness to compete against renowned stars like Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平) of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Lee Jung-hoo (李政厚) of the San Francisco Giants. ◼
