One of the storylines in Asian baseball this offseason will be the future of Taiwanese pitcher Jo-Hsi Hsu, widely considered the top arm in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
With his posting eligibility looming, Hsu is attracting serious interest from teams in Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korean Baseball Organization, and Major League Baseball.
Set to turn 25 in November, Hsu is having his best season of his professional career. In 2025, he has posted a 1.92 ERA with 96 strikeouts over 89 innings, solidifying his status as the CPBL’s premier pitcher. Though his career has been interrupted by injuries—including Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for all of 2022 and most of 2023—he has consistently dominated when healthy.
Unlike many Taiwanese prospects who are signed by MLB organizations straight out of high school, Hsu has stayed in the CPBL, developing his skills in Taiwan’s top domestic league. His journey has made him a success story within the CPBL, building a strong foundation before considering a jump abroad.
Arsenal and Pitching Profile – Hsu features a fastball that can reach 98 mph, sitting comfortably in the 94-95 mph range. It’s a low-spin pitch that induces a high number of ground balls. Notably, Hsu generates elite induced vertical break, giving hitters the illusion that the ball is “rising” as it approaches the plate—a characteristic of some of the most effective four-seamers in modern baseball. In the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in February, his IVB reached 22 inches. With continued growth, this pitch could be one of the best fastballs in NPB if he makes the jump there in 2026.
There’s still room for growth in his repertoire. If he can increase spin efficiency on his fastball, it could elevate the pitch to a truly elite level. He pairs his fastball with a tight slider, and while his changeup remains a work in progress, his command is exceptional. Hsu has walked just 12 batters in 89 innings this season, underscoring his polish on the mound.
Role Projection and Fit – Given his injury history and modest stature at 5-foot-10, MLB organizations may project Hsu as a future reliever. However, in NPB—where pitchers of his build have flourished—he could thrive in a starting role. His fastball, in particular, could become a dominant weapon in Japan, especially in a league that emphasizes movement and command over raw power.
It has been reported that the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays are among the most aggressive MLB suitors for Hsu’s services. On the NPB side, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters are reported to have made him a top priority heading into the offseason. Should Hsu prefer to remain a starter, the NPB route may offer the most direct and stable opportunity.
International Spotlight: 2026 World Baseball Classic – Before Hsu begins the next chapter of his professional career, he will represent Taiwan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He played a pivotal role in the team’s qualification campaign, striking out five batters over 3 2/3 innings, including several high-leverage outs in a decisive game against Spain.
Taiwan is undergoing a renaissance in baseball talent, and Hsu is at the heart of this resurgence. The 2026 WBC could feature the strongest Taiwanese pitching staff in history, with projected names such as Kai-Wei Teng (San Francisco Giants), Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (Oakland Athletics, Double-A), Sheng-En Lin (Cincinnati Reds), Wei-En Lin (Athletics), and Yu-Min Lin (Arizona Diamondbacks). Hsu could be deployed as a rotation piece or high-leverage reliever, depending on team needs.
CPBL Legacy and Next Steps – Hsu has now pitched in four CPBL seasons, with a career 2.41 ERA and 325 strikeouts over 280 innings in 60 career starts. His 2023 season marked a triumphant return from Tommy John surgery, and at just 22 years old, he became the youngest pitcher in CPBL history to start a Taiwan Series game. That same year, he led the Wei Chuan Dragons to the championship and earned Taiwan Series MVP honors.
In 2025, the Dragons are again in the playoff hunt, trailing by just three games for the final spot. Hsu is expected to play a central role in the team’s push for the postseason. While a second title would cap off a remarkable CPBL run, the focus will soon shift to his future beyond Taiwan.
If he makes the jump to NPB or MLB, Hsu will follow in the footsteps of fellow Taiwanese pitcher Ruei-Yang Gu Lin, who successfully transitioned from the CPBL to the NPB in 2025 before being sidelined by injury. Hsu, however, may arrive even more polished and with greater upside.
The Road Ahead – No matter where Jo-Hsi Hsu lands this offseason, he has already left an indelible mark on the CPBL. His combination of command, velocity, and mound presence make him one of the most intriguing international arms on the market. Whether he chooses Japan’s established development infrastructure or the challenge of MLB, Hsu appears ready for the next level.
With his prime years still ahead of him, the baseball world will be watching closely to see where this rising Taiwanese star takes his talents next.
Photo: Jo-Hsi Hsu of the Wei-Chuan Dragons.
