Chinese Taipei suffered a 3-0 loss to Australia in the World Baseball Classic opener, and lost its captain, Chen Chieh-hsien, to an injury as well.
Chen, the 2024 Premier12 MVP, slashed .277/.357/.391 in the last Chinese Professional Baseball League season and was one of the best players on this year’s World Baseball Classic squad. However, he was hit by a pitch on the left hand in the sixth inning.
He was seen in immediate pain and was replaced by Sung Cheng-Hui as a pinch runner. Sung stayed in the game to take over in right field. Chen was later seen in the dugout with an ice pack, but according to Chosun Biz, his status for the rest of the tournament is in doubt.
Chinese Taipei captain Chieh-Hsien Chen exits the game after being hit by a pitch. pic.twitter.com/0sBrurqnnX
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 5, 2026
“According to multiple Taiwanese media outlets, Chen was diagnosed with a left-hand fracture,” Chosun Biz wrote on Thursday. “He is scheduled to undergo further detailed examinations, and according to specialists, it is expected to take at least a month for the bone to heal. Accordingly, his participation in the remaining pool games, including the game against Korea on the 8th, is effectively ruled out.”
Chinese Taipei needs to beat Korea to keep their qualification hopes alive, but will have to do so without their captain, most likely.
Chen has already shown what he can do on the world stage. In the 2024 Premier12, he had a 1.617 OPS, 2 HR, 6 RBI, and was the tournament MVP. Losing him is a major blow.
Photo: Taiwan’s Chen Chieh-hsien is hit by a pitch in the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic game in Tokyo, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
