The last time Team Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) played in the World Baseball Classic, Yu Chang and Kungkuan Giljegiljaw were among the hitters who helped power them to a 2-2 record in pool play. This time around, those two, plus some interesting prospects, will look to push Taipei forward in the 2026 WBC.
Pitchers
- RHP Yi Chang
- LHP Kuan-Yu Chen
- RHP Po-Yu Chen
- RHP Hao-Chun Cheng
- RHP Ruei-Yang Gu Lin
- RHP Jo-Hsi Hsu
- RHP Chih-Wei Hu
- RHP Kai-Wei Lin
- RHP Shih-Hisang Lin
- LHP Wei-En Lin (Athletics)
- LHP Yu-Min Lin (Diamondbacks)
- RHP Tzu-Chen Sha
- RHP Yi-Lei Sun
- RHP Jyun-Yue Tseng
- RHP Jun-Wei Zhang
- RHP Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (Athletics)
Prospects are among the notable names to watch on Taipei’s roster.
The Athletics are sending two notable pitchers to the WBC: Wei-En Lin and Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang. Lin had a breakout season in the Minors last season, as the left-hander’s pitch mix, which includes a low-to-mid-90s fastball, changeup, and two breaking balls, diced up hitters. He shot up from Low-A to Double-A last season.
There are also other notable players, including Diamondbacks pitching prospect Yu-Min Lin. Lin didn’t perform well in Triple-A Reno last season. The 22-year-old struck out only 85 over 101.2 IP and posted an ERA over 6.00 last season.
Zhuang, meanwhile, was added to the Athletics’ 40-man roster after he struck out 145 over 145.2 IP.
Chih-Wei Hu spent two seasons with the Rays at the MLB level. Hu last played affiliated baseball in 2019.
Catchers
- C Shao-Hung Chiang
- C Kungkuan Giljegiljaw
- C Lyle Lin
Kungkuan Giljegiljaw, the former Guardians farmhand, was one of Taipei’s best hitters in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The 31-year-old, who spent parts of six seasons in the Cleveland organization, picked up four hits, including a home run, over four games three years ago.
Lyle Lin spent six seasons as a Minor Leaguer in the Diamondbacks and Athletics organizations. Lin was cut by the A’s last summer.
Infielders
- INF Yu Chang
- MI Tsung-Che Cheng (Red Sox)
- INF Kun-Yu Chiang
- INF Hao-Yu Lee (Tigers)
- MI Tzu-Wei Lin
- 1B Jonathon Long (Cubs)
- INF Nien-Ting Wu
Three years ago, Yu Chang, then a member of the Red Sox, had a fantastic WBC. Chang hit .438 with two home runs and four total extra-base hits in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Now 30 years of age, he’ll be one of the elder statesmen on Taipei’s team.
He won’t be along, though, as far as potential impact players.
Former Pirate Tsung-Che Cheng, who’s been a bouncing ball across the Majors this past winter, will be on the team. Cheng has been good at getting on base but has struggled to impact the game offensively in the upper Minors.
However, perhaps the two most notable bats on Chinese Taipei’s team are prospects Hao-Yu Lee and Jonathon Long. Lee was an all-around offense threat in Triple-A Toledo last season, as he regularly hit for power and got on base. Long, meanwhile, hit 20 home runs and posted a 10% Barrel% with the Iowa Cubs last season.
Tzu-Wei Lin, a former Red Sox prospect, is another notable name.
Outfielders
- OF Chen-Wei Chen
- OF Chieh-Hsien Chen
- OF Stuart Fairchild (Guardians)
- OF An-Ko Lin
The lone player among the outfield core with MLB — and pro experience — is Guardians outfielder Stuart Fairchild.
Fairchild, who signed a Minor League deal with the Guardians this past winter, is a speedy outfielder, albeit one who has had limited offensive production at the MLB level. He has a career OPS of .689 as a Major League player.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including a look at Team Netherlands.