Rakuten Monkeys Mistreating Player: Denying Medical Support
“I just hope to be treated fairly regarding my injury.”
Just how low can Rakuten sink in terms of organisational reputation? Here is yet another PR incident to add to their ever-growing list, highlighting their incompetence in running a CPBL team and raising serious concerns about how they treat their players, particularly in refusing to cover surgery costs.
On March 26, Beau Sulser, who pitched for the Rakuten Monkeys in 2025, told NOWNews that negotiations with the team over medical support had broken down. The Monkeys disputed the MRI results and were unwilling to cover the cost of his elbow surgery.
As a member of the Rakuten Monkeys, Beau Sulser logged 83.1 innings during the 2025 CPBL season, posting a 3.89 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. In the postseason, he made two appearances in Games 2 and 4 of the Playoff Series, recording a 3.18 ERA over 5.2 innings. However, shortly after the Playoff Series, he began experiencing elbow discomfort and was left off the Monkeys’ Taiwan Series roster.
At the time, the initial diagnosis suggested Beau Sulser only needed 2 to 3 months of rest to recover. However, his condition failed to improve during the off-season. After seeking further medical evaluations in the United States, doctors diagnosed a tear in his elbow tendon that required surgery. This is where the Rakuten Monkeys disagreed, choosing instead to rely on the earlier diagnosis, which had identified the issue as a strain in his elbow tendon.
Beau Sulser also noted that the Rakuten Monkeys did not proactively check on his recovery during the off-season or discuss a potential contract for 2026.
“There was no communication at all until I reached out to them in December after learning I needed surgery,” Beau Sulser said. “My contract states that if I receive treatment in the US, I must cover the cost myself. However, the team never offered me the option of undergoing treatment in Taiwan.”
According to Beau Sulser, the team declined to support the cost of his surgery because they disagreed with the US diagnosis. Discussions ultimately ended when the Monkeys maintained that surgery was unnecessary and refused to take further action. Beau Sulser admitted the situation was deeply frustrating, especially after pitching through injury in the opening round of the postseason to help the team win the 2025 Taiwan Series Championship.
“For a player who gave so much to the team, this feels unfair,” Beau Sulser said. “I love the fans, my team-mates, the coaches, and the staff. I just hope we can reach a fair agreement.”
Rakuten Monkeys Beau Sulser strikes out 6 over 6 scoreless innings. pic.twitter.com/IgkBDS3FmB
— CPBL STATS (Taiwan Dark Lemon) 🪬🔮 (@GOCPBL) May 26, 2025