Taiwan Baseball (CPBL): News, Notes, and Where to Watch

As the second half of the 2024 Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) season progresses, here is a look at the top news and notes from the last week in Taiwan’s highest level of professional baseball.

Uni-Lions Release LHP Jake Kalish

According to multiple reports, the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions released left-handed American pitcher Jake Kalish last Thursday. Kalish signed a contract with the Lions in February but never appeared for the first team.

Kalish, 33, posted a 2.30 ERA in 74.1 innings with the Lions farm team, leaving the possibility that other CPBL teams could be interested in his services. Outside of the CPBL, Kalish has experience in minor-league baseball with the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels.

Suppose he cannot secure a new CPBL contract. The George Mason University product can focus on other professional leagues this winter, like LIDOM in the Dominican Republic or Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico. During the 2021-22 LIDOM season, Kalish made four appearances for the Estrellas Orientales.

Dragons’ Giljegiljaw Kungkuan Enjoys Three-Homer Game

Juan Soto of the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball saw Giljegiljaw Kungkuan drill three home runs in one game on Sunday and decided he wanted to do it, too.

In an 11-6 win against the Fubon Guardians, the Wei Chuan Dragons catcher went 3-for-3 with eight RBI and a walk. He hit his first home run in the top of the first inning, with a two-run shot to left field, to give the Dragons an early 2-0 lead. With the Dragons leading 2-0 in the top of the third, Kungkuan launched a low fastball over the center field wall for a grand slam. Just one inning later, he deposited his second two-run shot and third home run of the game deep over the left-field fence to extend the lead to 11-1.

Kungkuan is five home runs away from surpassing his career-high of 23 with the Dragons in 2023. Following the cancellation of the 2020 minor league baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kungkuan returned to Taiwan and was selected second overall in the 2021 CPBL draft by the Dragons. Before returning to Taiwan, he played six seasons in the Cleveland Guardians organization from 2014-19.

MVP’s in the CPBL for July

Each month of the CPBL season, the league announces the Pitcher of the Month and the Batter of the Month. For July, starting pitcher Mario Sanchez of the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions won Pitcher of the Month honors, and center fielder Chen Chieh-Hsien of the Lions was selected as the Batter of the Month.

The Venezuelan Sanchez went 2-0 with 21 strikeouts and just two walks in 22 innings in July for the Lions. In three starts, Sanchez allowed just one earned run, good for a 0.41 ERA. He leads all qualified CPBL pitchers with a 1.77 ERA in 2024.

In 14 games, Chen Chieh-Hsien hit .455, recording 25 hits in 63 plate appearances. Even more impressive, the outfielder stole four bases, drew six walks, and had 12 RBI in those 14 games. Chen leads all qualified CPBL position players with a .363 batting average in 2024.

This Day in Taiwanese Baseball History

On August 14, 2023, the Rakuten Monkeys agreed to a contract with right-handed Dominican pitcher Pedro Fernandez.

Fernandez is still pitching for the Monkeys in 2024 and has a 2.90 ERA in 18 starts this season. He began his professional baseball career in 2012 with the Kansas City Royals Dominican Summer League team. He did not receive the opportunity to make his MLB debut with the organization from 2012-18.

Fernandez has experience in other international professional baseball leagues besides the CPBL, including LIDOM and Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.

CPBL Standings as of Wednesday, August 14

1. CTBC Brothers (13-0-10)
2. Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions (13-0-10)
3. Wei Chuan Dragons (12-0-11)
4. Fubon Guardians (11-0-13)
5. Rakuten Monkeys (11-0-13)
6. TSG Hawks (11-0-14)

You can watch every Chinese Professional Baseball League game on DAZN.

Photo Credit: Team CTBC Brothers celebrate after winning the CPBL game between CTBC Brothers and Wei Chuan Dragons at Taipei Dome on June 01, 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)