As the second half of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) season continues, here is the top news and notes from last week in Taiwan’s highest level of professional baseball.
Bryan Woodall accumulates nine years in CPBL
On September 14, right-handed pitcher Bryan Woodall reached nine years of service time in the CPBL, which earned him a domestic player status. This now means he will not occupy a foreign player slot for the Wei-Chuan Dragons in 2025.
Woodall, 37, has made 14 starts this season, posting a 4-7 record and a 3.69 ERA, only collecting 32 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched. He’s also only allowed two home runs all year. He made his CPBL debut in 2015 with the Chinatrust Brothers when he was 28. The Dragons announced that Woodall will return for the 2025 campaign.
Arizona Diamondbacks hold Taiwan Day Event
On September 15, the Arizona Diamondbacks held their first-ever Taiwanese Heritage Celebration before their game against the Milwaukee Brewers. They invited cheerleaders from the Wei-Chuan Dragons for the event. They would meet Taiwanese-American outfielder Corbin Carroll, where they pose for a picture before the Diamondbacks game. Carroll’s mother was born in Taiwan.
CTBC Brothers Game Sells Out for Chou Szu-Chi’s Retirement
Tickets for the CTBC Brothers game on September 21 are all sold out. Chou Szu-Chi is set to retire at the end of the season. The expected attendance is expected at 40,000 people. His retirement game is set to take place on September 21 at the Taipei Dome. This will mark the first time in CPBL history that a team will reach the Taipei Dome’s maximum capacity.
In Chou Szu-Chi’s 20-year career, he holds a career .307 batting average, 1,804 hits, 144 home runs, 948 RBIs, and 100 stolen bases. The 42-year-old outfielder won the CPBL MVP of the Year Award in 2012 and was a Taiwan Series champion in 2021 and 2022.
This Date in Taiwanese Baseball History
On September 18, 1983, Taiwanese representatives returned home after the Asian Baseball Championship. The tournament was held in Seoul, South Korea, from September 3 to 13, with Taiwan winning the championship, alongside Japan and South Korea, punching their ticket to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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Photo Credit: Pitcher Bryan Woodall #52 of Wei Chuan Dragons pitches in the top of the fouth inning during 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)
