Detroit Tigers infielder Hao-Yu Lee, the club’s No. 7 prospect, confirmed he intends to suit up for Chinese Taipei in March if healthy. The 22-year-old reached Triple-A this season and appears close to his major league debut. He hit .243 with a .342 on-base percentage and .406 slugging percentage for Triple-A Toledo, finishing with 14 home runs, 61 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
Lee was even stronger against left-handers, batting .299/.395/.523 with six homers in 124 plate appearances. He is viewed as a leading candidate to start at third base for Chinese Taipei.
“I am highly willing to participate,” Lee said. “If there is no injury, I will participate.”
Oakland Athletics right-hander Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang also said he plans to play. The 25-year-old completed his first full season at Double-A Midland, posting a 4.08 ERA across 145 2/3 innings with 145 strikeouts. Zhuang pitched for Chinese Taipei in the WBC qualifiers in Taipei City, starting the winner-take-all game against Spain and allowing two runs on four hits over three innings.
Cracking Chinese Taipei’s rotation in March will be more difficult, but Zhuang is expected to contend for a role either as a starter or multi-inning reliever.
Another Athletics pitching prospect, Tzu-Chen Sha, added his name to the list of interested players. The right-hander split 2025 between Single-A and High-A, combining for a 4.15 ERA across 99 2/3 innings with 87 strikeouts. Sha pitched for Chinese Taipei during February’s qualifiers, starting the team’s second game against South Africa. He threw 2 2/3 hitless innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out one, and was the only Taiwanese starter in the tournament not to surrender a run. He projects as a bullpen option for the national team.
Chinese Taipei will compete in Pool C in Tokyo from March 5–10, joining Japan, Korea, Czechia and Australia. Chinese Taipei has advanced past the opening round only once in WBC history, in 2013, and has finished last in its group in back-to-back tournaments.
With what is expected to be the deepest roster the program has fielded on the WBC stage, Taiwan will look to break through to the quarterfinals — a challenge that will likely require beating at least one of its traditional Asian rivals.
Photo: Taiwan pitcher Chen Zhong Ao Zhuang (48) throws during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic qualifying game against Spain in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
