CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #393
Uni-Lions News: Joe Wieland
On July 26, the Uni-Lions announced that their backup foreign pitcher, Joe Wieland, has decided to retire. The 35-year-old American right-hander is expected to leave Taiwan in early August.
According to the Uni-Lions manager, Joe Wieland had expressed his intention to retire a couple of weeks before the All-Star break. Despite the team’s best efforts, they were unable to change his mind.
“We spoke with him again yesterday and told him that with C.C. Mercedes leaving for the KBO, there would be a spot available on the first team,” said the Uni-Lions manager to TSNA. “But Joe Wieland still chose to hang up his cleats.”
Joe Wieland was signed at the start of the 2025 season as the Uni-Lions’ fifth foreign pitcher. He spent the entire season in the CPBL minor leagues, posting a 3.22 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 50.1 innings.
With his departure, the Uni-Lions now have Yohander Méndez, Brock Dykxhoorn, and Félix Peña as their remaining foreign players. In a recent interview with CNA, the Uni-Lions’ general manager revealed they are currently targeting two new foreign pitchers and they will speed up the signing process.
Further Readings
Foreign players come and go. Therefore, we have compiled a foreign player tracker, and I’ll be updating that list regularly to keep pace with the ever-changing roster shuffle throughout the 2025 CPBL season.