CTBC Brothers Fired Hsu Chi-Ling for Drink Driving
On June 20, local media reported that CTBC Brothers right-hander Hsu Chi-Ling (徐基麟) was involved in a traffic collision while driving under the influence. The report included photos of Hsu’s heavily damaged vehicle that had overturned after crashing into a light pole. According to the police report, Hsu Chi-Ling’s breath alcohol level was measured at 0.72 mg/L, well above Taiwan’s legal limit of 0.25 mg/L.
Shortly after the news broke, the CTBC Brothers announced that they had terminated Hsu Chi-Ling’s contract. The team said his drink-driving offence constituted a serious breach of player conduct, and noted that he had also attempted to conceal the incident from them. The Brothers confirmed they would pursue damages for breach of contract.
Hsu Chi-Ling spent 2019 to 2021 in the Philadelphia Phillies system, reaching Low-A. During that time, his development was limited by an elbow injury in 2019 and the coronavirus pandemic shutdown in 2020.
He eventually left the MLB system and returned to Taiwan to enter the CPBL draft. In 2022, Hsu Chi-Ling was selected by the CTBC Brothers in the second round and was signed for an annual salary of 80,000 USD. After spending his first CPBL season as a reliever, he moved into a starting role in 2024 and posted a promising 3.34 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 32.1 innings. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury mid-season and later underwent Tommy John surgery in 2025.
Originally, Hsu Chi-Ling was expected to return to the mound and begin his rehabilitation assignment in 2026. However, due to his own stupidity, this DUI incident has now put an end to his professional baseball career in Taiwan.
CTBC Brothers’ 徐基麟 (Hsu Chi-Ling) has started mixing the knuckleball into his pitching repertoire. 🦋 #CPBL pic.twitter.com/tNpS2jz7xo
— CPBL STATS (Taiwan Dark Lemon) 🪬🔮 (@GOCPBL) May 3, 2024