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.