While the first two World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in Jupiter, Florida and Regensburg, Germany are in the books, the sights of International Baseball turn already towards the two remaining tournaments in Taipei City and Panama City in November.
Chinese Taipei already announced their 28-man roster for the World Baseball Classic Qualifier this week. 20 players are coming from the Chinese Professional Baseball League, five from Nippon Professional Baseball and one from the Chicago Cubs organization.
Chinese Taipei is the heavy favorite in this leg of the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, facing New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand from November 15 to 18. They will start their training camp on October 21 and have scheduled at least six exhibition games prior to the tournament.
Roster:
Pitchers (14) – Wang Chin-Ming, Fu Yu-Kang (Uni-President Lions); Lin Chia-Wei (Lamigo Monkeys). Kuan Ta-Yuan, Lin Yu-Ching, Tseng Song-Wei (Brother Elephants); Lin Yen-Feng (Sinon Bulls) ; Wang Yao-Ling (Chicago Cubs farm system), Wang Yi-Chen (NPB Yokohama Baystars), Lin Yi-Hao (NPB Yomiuri Giants), Yang Yao-Hsun (NPB Softbank Hawks), Cheng Kai-Wen (NPB Hanshin Tigers), Kuo Chun-Ling (Fubon amateur club), Chen Hong-Wen (national reserve squad)
Catchers (3) – Cheng Ta-Hong (Sinon Bulls); Lin Hong-Yu (Lamigo Monkeys); Kao Chih-Kang (Uni-President Lions)
Infielders (6) – Lin Yi-Chuan (Sinon Bulls); Lin Chih-Sheng, Kuo Yen-Wen (Lamigo Monkeys); Peng Cheng-Min, Chen Chiang-Ho (Brother Elephants); Chen Yung-Chih (Uni-President Lions)
Outfielders (5) – Yang Tai-Kang (NPB Nippon Ham Fighters); Chang Chien-Ming (Sinon Bulls); Pan Wu-Hsiung (Uni-President Lions); Chou Hsi-Chih, Chang Chen-Wei (Brother Elephants)