Team Taiwan announce 25-man roster for 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship

Team Taiwan have announced their 25-man roster for the upcoming Asia Professional Baseball Championship.  With Monkeys skipper 洪一中 (Hong I-Chung) leading the team, it is not a surprise to see players from Lamigo Monkeys being the backbone of this U24 squad.

Just like Team Japan, the Taiwanese team will be using all 3 wildcards spot on their roster.  Among those wildcard players, perhaps one of the biggest surprise in this tournament is Taiwanese baseball superstar 陽岱鋼 (Yoh DaiKan), who currently playing for the Yomiuri Giants.

Team Taiwan’s New Core 4

The heart of this Taiwanese offense will be made up by bunch of hard hitting youngsters.  It is very likely to see either 陳品捷 (Chen Pin-Chieh) or 陳傑憲 (Chen Chieh-Hsien) batting lead off.  While CPBL 2017 quadruple crown winner 王柏融 (Wang Po-Jung) and 陳子豪 (Chen Tzu-Hao) in the middle of the lineup.

Yes, the pitching department..

With no young players retention policy in place similar to Japan and Korea.  It’s not an easy job for Team Taiwan to come up with a group of U24 pitchers, as most of the top young pitchers from Taiwan tend to go USA or Japan straight out of High School/ University.

With Chiba Lotte Marines 陳冠宇 (Chen Kuan-Yu) likely to start against Korea, 林樺慶 (Lin Hua-Ching) & 林政賢 (Lin Cheng-Hsien) might go back-to-back against Japan.

The bullpen will lead by the crafty RHP 邱浩鈞 (Chiu Hao-Chun) and the hard-throwing youngster 朱俊祥 (Chu Chun-Hsiang), with 陳禹勳 (Chen Yu-Hsun) closing the game if there’s a chance to do so.

Wildcards & non-CPBL players

• 陽岱鋼 (Yoh DaiKan) – NPB Yomiuri Giants – Very likely to see Yoh batting #3 in the lineup.  Being the veteran in NPB, Yoh will provide stability and plenty morale support to this young Taiwanese lineup.
• 陳禹勳 (Chen Yu-Hsun) – CPBL Lamigo Monkeys – The experienced closer who recently set the CPBL record for most saves in a single season (37SV) will do what he does best, slamming door at the final inning.
• 陳冠宇 (Chen Kuan-Yu) – NPB Chiba Lotte Marines – Despite Chen being used as reliever towards the end of 2017 season.  The LHP is very likely to be used as a starting pitcher.
• 吳念庭 (Wu Nien-Ting) – NPB Seibu Lions – Definitely going to served as the utility player in the Taiwanese team.  As Wu is able to cover 2B/SS/3B and OF.  Either we going to see him being the primary 3B or as late inning utility substitute.

The one that got away

Here’s a short list of players we thinks have a lot of potential but was not included in the squad for various reason.

• 林承飛 (Lin Cheng-Fei) & 梁家榮 (Liang Chia-Jung) – At age of 20 and 22, both players are definitely being part of Lamigo Monkeys development plan with the goal of turning them into primary SS and 3B.  Both players been given plenty of opportunity to start in those position at the top team level.
• 宋家豪 (Sung Chia-Hao) – The Rakuten Eagles hard throwing reliever made his NPB 1st team debut this year towards the end of the season.  With him being included in Eagles postseason squad and have other training plan after the season, Sung turned down the opportunity to play for team Taiwan.
• 陳韻文 (Chen Yun-Wen), 王玉譜 (Wang Yu-Pu) & 施子謙 (Shih Tzu-Chien) – Not having these 3 players on the team definitely hurt the team, as they will provide stability in this Taiwanese bullpen.  According the the local media, Chen and Shih turned down the chance to play simply they need to rest, as both of them been working extremely hard all year.  As for Wang, who just recently recovered from his car accident, it is safe to assumed Lions want him to rest and get ready for 2018.

25-man roster pitchers

25-man roster batters

Player Highlights

The King 王柏融 (Wang Po-Jung) highlight by NPB Pacific League TV

Brothers power hitting youngster 陳子豪 (Chen Tzu-Hao)

The hit machine 陳傑憲 (Chen Chieh-Hsien)

The gifted lefty 林政賢 (Lin Cheng-Hsien)

The future Lamigo ace 林樺慶 (Lin Hua-Ching)

Further Reading

• Our potential pitcher list for Team Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
• Our Team Taiwan final 25-man roster predictions.
• Team Korea roster announcement.
• Taiwan to face NPB Chiba Lotte Marines for 3 practice games.
• Team Twain roster announcement and our analysis.