The CPBL’s All-Star break has passed, and the league has entered the early stages of the second half as teams begin their push for the final two playoff berths.
By virtue of winning the first half, the Wei Chuan Dragons have already clinched a postseason spot. The only remaining question is whether they will earn an automatic berth in the Taiwan Series by winning the second half or advance through the playoff series against the wild-card team. Regardless of what happens over the remainder of the season, the Dragons know they will be playing postseason baseball.
One team far from guaranteed a playoff spot is the defending champion Rakuten Monkeys. After finishing the first half in fifth place at 24-34-2, Rakuten will likely need to win the second half to avoid missing the postseason. So far, they’ve looked like a different club.
The Monkeys have opened the second half with a 6-3 record, including a two-game sweep of the Fubon Guardians.
A major reason for Rakuten’s turnaround has been the return of CPBL superstar Li Lin. The 2022 CPBL MVP missed nearly the entire first half with an injury that also forced him to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic. His absence left a significant void in the middle of Rakuten’s lineup and was one of the primary reasons the club struggled offensively.
Lin has wasted little time making an impact. In Rakuten’s opening game of the second half against the Guardians, he hit a game-tying two-run home run in the seventh inning before delivering a go-ahead RBI infield single with two outs in the eighth to lift the Monkeys to victory.
Since returning, Lin is batting 13 for-40(.325) with a home run, a triple and five RBIs. As Rakuten’s best hitter and one of the premier offensive players in the CPBL, his presence has dramatically changed the lineup.
Rakuten also added another offensive weapon before the All-Star break, signing veteran outfielder Adam Walker.
Walker spent this season with Oisix Niigata Albirex BC in Nippon Professional Baseball’s minor league system, posting an .817 OPS with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs. The 34-year-old reached Triple-A in both 2016 and 2017 before spending four seasons in independent baseball. He then played in NPB from 2022-24.
His best season came in 2022 with the Yomiuri Giants, when he posted an .821 OPS with 23 home runs and 52 RBIs. Although he was unable to match that production over the following two seasons, Rakuten hopes Walker can provide much-needed power to a lineup that lacked consistent home run production during the first half. He is expected to be available following the All-Star break.
De Paula Continues Historic Career – Veteran left-hander José De Paula added another milestone to his remarkable CPBL career on July 12.
De Paula threw five scoreless innings with four strikeouts to earn his 76th career CPBL victory. The win tied Jonathan Hurst for the most victories by a foreign pitcher in CTBC Brothers franchise history and moved De Paula into sole possession of 10th place among foreign pitchers in CPBL history.
After suffering a season-ending injury in 2025, De Paula has returned looking as dominant as ever. The 38-year-old owns a 1.73 ERA while posting career bests in walks allowed per nine innings and hits allowed per nine innings, proving he still has plenty left despite entering the later stages of his career.
Balazovic Emerging As One of CPBL’s Best – Another foreign pitcher making a significant impact this season is former MLB and KBO right-hander Jordan Balazovic with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions.
Balazovic owns a 1.04 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. In his first start of the season’s second half, he tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven against the CTBC Brothers.
He has established himself as one of the league’s elite pitchers and should become an attractive free-agent target for clubs in Asia’s top professional leagues following the season.
Huang Extends Historic Scoreless Streak – TSG Hawks starter Tzu-Peng Huang continued one of the most dominant stretches by any pitcher in the league.
Last Wednesday against the Fubon Guardians, Huang threw six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 33 2/3 innings dating back to the first half of the season.
Team Taiwan Wins All-Star Series Opener – The CPBL All-Star Game was held Saturday and Sunday, featuring a two-game exhibition series between the CPBL All-Stars and Team Taiwan.
Team Taiwan’s roster was primarily made up of national team players under the age of 25 as preparations continue for the Asian Professional Baseball Championship later this year.
In Game 1, the CPBL All-Stars struck first in the second inning on a two-out RBI single by Wei Chuan Dragons outfielder Tian-Shin Kuo. Chieh-Hsien Chen doubled home another run in the fifth inning to make it 2-0.
Team Taiwan responded with five runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Yi-Cheng Wang’s go-ahead RBI single for the Fubon Guardians.
Team Taiwan later extended its lead to 7-2, with Tzu-Hao Lin contributing an RBI single.
Lin was named Game 1 MVP after Team Taiwan secured a 7-4 victory.
Game 2 turned into a pitchers’ duel.
The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions veteran Yung-Chi Chen, who will retire following the season after spending his entire CPBL career with the club since 2011, hit a solo home run to right field for the game’s first run.
Protecting a 1-0 lead with two outs in the ninth inning, the CPBL All-Stars turned to an unlikely closer, outfielder Tian-Shin Kuo. After issuing a walk, Kuo recorded the final out on a fly ball to secure the victory, snapping a personal streak of nine consecutive All-Star losses against Team Taiwan.
Chen was named Game 2 MVP in his final CPBL All-Star Game.
The 2026 CPBL Home Run Derby was held over two days, with the championship round taking place July 19. Eight players competed in the opening round, with Jui-Sung Cheng, Sung-En Tseng, Cheng-Sung Wang and Po-Han Sung advancing to the finals.
In the championship round, CTBC Brothers slugger Sung-En Tseng edged teammate Jui-Sung Cheng with 10 home runs to capture the 2026 CPBL Home Run Derby title. The victory gave Tseng his second consecutive Home Run Derby championship.
ABS debuts in the CPBL
One of the more memorable moments of the All-Star festivities came during Game 2 when CPBL commissioner Chi-Chang Tsai stepped into the batter’s box during the final All-Star Game of his tenure to face Taiwanese pitching legend Chien-Ming Wang.
After a 2-0 pitch was called a strike, Tsai challenged the call using the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system. The challenge was successful, marking the first use of ABS in CPBL history.
It is expected the ABS challenge system will be fully implemented for the 2027 season.
Second-Half Standings
1. Rakuten Monkeys 6-3
2. TSG Hawks 5-3
3. Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions 5-4
4. Wei Chuan Dragons 5-5
5. CTBC Brothers 3-5
6. Fubon Guardians 2-6
