Growth curves come in all shapes. Some players claim titles in their youth; others anchor the lineup for years. Chu Yu-Hsien put in years of quiet, dedicated effort from his student days and grew into one of the defining sluggers of Taiwan's CPBL. So how exactly did he climb to the top?

The 2019 season was a tour de force: a .347 average, 30 home runs, and 105 RBIs. Since then, Chu Yu-Hsien has continued to anchor the Rakuten Monkeys as their cleanup hitter. His batting ― a blend of raw power and technical skill that brings to mind Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ Yanagita Yuuki, whom Chu himself cites as a model ― is backed by tireless training and conditioning work. Now in his thirties and entering his prime, the phrase he keeps coming back to is “the importance of preparation.” The fact that he’s still playing games today comes down to the daily groundwork he has laid to be ready when opportunity knocks. In his eyes, the future is built one day at a time.

——You’ve appeared consistently since your first year in 2016 and have been the team’s cleanup hitter ever since. What do you focus on in your daily routine to stay at your best for as long as possible?

“Physical care comes first. The team has an assigned trainer who keeps regular tabs on my condition. On a personal level, I also work with a private trainer and a treatment clinic for conditioning. They come to practices and games and give me advice, which helps me maintain high performance over a long period. Mental care is equally important. Every player goes through good and bad stretches, and in the past I used to let my mood drop when my numbers weren’t there. But as my career progressed, I gradually found ways to refresh my mindset by spending more time with my family and keeping in touch with friends. Learning to occasionally step back and reset my mental state has had a positive effect on my play.”

——As one of Taiwan’s top sluggers, do you feel pressure from being called a ‘big gun’?

“Of course there’s pressure. I built up my power through weight training in college, it’s not something that came naturally. When the long hits don’t come, I feel the pressure. But because I developed this ability through my own hard work, I take pride in being expected to deliver as a ‘big gun.’ I’ve learned to channel pressure into motivation. Modern baseball also involves a lot of data analysis of opponents, so rather than just trying to hit hard, I think with my head and adapt to situations.”

——The Rakuten Monkeys are performing well. Where do you think the team’s strength comes from?

“Our teamwork is outstanding. Each player understands their role in the batting order and plays to it, so even when home runs and hits aren’t flowing, the lineup stays connected and we score. That’s where our strength lies.”

―—What do you feel the Rakuten Monkeys and Taiwanese baseball need in order to reach a higher level?

“For the Monkeys specifically, I think making the competition between the first and second teams fiercer is important. If the farm team players push hard, the first-team players feel the pressure too, and developing young talent raises the level of the whole team. In terms of advancing Taiwanese baseball overall, we need to improve the infrastructure. We need better locations for stadiums, facilities that let players focus on the game, and stands that fans can enjoy ― I hope the hardware side gets a serious upgrade. That’s what will lift the whole league.”

―—Finally, what advice would you give to kids who dream of becoming a professional baseball player?

“I believe the key is having a high aim and preparing relentlessly for it. If you don’t set a clear dream and goal from a young age and put in the work, you won’t be able to seize opportunities when they come. Back in my amateur days, first base was the only position I’d ever played. But going pro made me realize that might not be enough to get me into games, so I challenged myself to learn other positions. These days I’m deployed in the outfield more often, but if I had practiced only at first base back then, I might not be playing at all now. Always be ready to grab whatever chance comes your way.”

Interview: Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)
Text: Kodai Wada