The Taiwanese team won their first victory at the WBSC Premier 12, an international Baseball tournament held in November 2024.The team was led by Manager Ceng Hao-Ju, who serves as the second team Manager for the Rakuten Monkeys.Among powerhouse countries such as the Japanese and American teams, how did they manage to win the tournament?We got them to talk about their preparation for the match, the changes in the players throughout the tournament, and their feelings towards Baseball in Taiwan.

——What kind of preparation did you make to win the WBSC Premier12?

“I was hoping to move the baseball fans in Taiwan above all, but it’s not like I was aiming for victory from the beginning.However, as the tournament progressed, the unity of the team increased, and by moving forward step by step, everyone was able to fight in the same direction.First, we achieved our goal of making it into the top four, and gained confidence by realizing, ‘We made it into the top four in the world.’ With this newfound confidence, we aimed even higher and gave it our all. And so, they managed to win the championship, engraving their name in history.”

——During the tournament, what were you conscious of while leading?

“My role is to say, ‘You are not alone, we are a team. Baseball is a team sport, and the idea was to convey to everyone that by moving forward together, we can achieve better results.’ It wasn’t that one person had special power, it was a victory won by the entire team.We all prepared for the match and fought it out together.I am grateful that everyone has believed in me.Thanks to the immense efforts of the entire team, including players, coaches, scouts, and support staff, we were able to achieve the best results.”

——Have you made any preparations for the match against the Japanese team?

“For a long time, the Japanese team has been proud of its top-class abilities in the Baseball world. I believe their victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) proved that they are reigning at the pinnacle of the world.Rather than taking special measures against them, I repeatedly challenged them, seeking an opportunity for victory, and was always on the lookout for a chance.In this WBSC Premier12, we faced the Japanese team three times. After losing twice, we finally won in the finals.While continuing to make improvements, I feel that we have gradually been able to close the gap with the stronger competitors.However, this victory is not a goal, but a start. I believe that from now on, the world will be paying attention to Taiwanese Baseball, which will likely present even greater challenges in the future.”

——Please tell us about a player from the Japanese team who you particularly appreciate, having competed against them.

“Japanese players possess high self-management skills and are well-trained, making every one of them attractive.Among them, Ryosuke Tatsumi of the Rakuten Eagles, who are part of the same Rakuten Group, is a player with high physical abilities and is very interesting.I believe he can certainly excel as a pitcher. I would be glad if we had the opportunity to interact someday.”

——Do you feel the impact on the Taiwanese Baseball scene after winning this tournament?

“First, we were able to gain great confidence.The fervor within Taiwan was tremendous, becoming a major topic of discussion.I feel that winning is not just about the performance of the players, but also involves gathering information about the opposing team, scientific analysis, mental care, teamwork, and even the support of fans.And now, as the interest in baseball is growing, I believe it is more important than ever to integrate the culture of baseball into people’s lives.We want to foster a deeper understanding of Baseball among people, involve them in various aspects of this industry, and create an environment where they can thrive in a wide range of fields.”

——In leading the representative team, were you able to utilize your coaching experience with the Rakuten Monkeys?

“While leading at the Rakuten Monkeys, I’ve learned that not only success but also failure is important.Professional baseball games are a cycle of victories and defeats.There are hardly any teams that continue to win.Even after winning or losing, think about how to win the next game, propose improvements, and put them into practice.This is a continuous process.I always believe that setbacks are what make people grow.That’s why, even in this tournament, after a defeat, we’ve been thinking and devising ways to win the next time.I believe that the process led to the result of winning the championship.The Manager of the Rakuten Monkeys’ second team, and the Manager of the Taiwan representative team.I feel that these two experiences complement each other.The things learned while serving as a Manager for the Rakuten Monkeys can be utilized in the national team at international competitions, and furthermore, the experience gained from competing against different opponents at international competitions can be brought back to the Rakuten Monkeys’ games.These experiences have been extremely beneficial and have been of great help to me.I am deeply grateful to the Rakuten Monkeys and the Taiwanese representative team for giving me this opportunity.”

——Many Rakuten Monkeys players participated in the WBSC Premier12. Could you feel their growth as you usually interact with them closely?

“Through the tournament, I felt their growth as I watched them adapt flexibly to different environments and opposing teams.The representative team is a team composed of outstanding players from each baseball club, who are usually opponents on the professional baseball stage.We must understand each other’s characteristics in a short period of time, cooperate, and fight as a team.The players have been striving for mutual understanding by communicating extensively during the WBSC Premier12.Even when facing different opponents, there was a need to devise strategies in a short period of time. However, as I continued to compete against such opponents, both I myself and the players were able to discover latent abilities that we hadn’t noticed before. I feel that these were very significant harvests.”

——What kind of environment do you think is necessary for Taiwan Baseball to continue to succeed on the world stage?

“We need to get more people involved in Baseball.It’s not just about increasing the number of players, but it’s also important to enhance the expertise in various fields such as medical staff, trainers, and analysts. I hope that improvements to each stadium’s facilities, the nurturing of coaches and staff, and investments in the younger generation will become more professional and precise.”

——Do you have a manager you look up to as a leader?

“I served as a coach for five years under Manager Hong Yi-Chung, the only ‘1000-win Manager’ in the Taiwanese professional Baseball world, and learned a lot from him.”He was a great reference for me in terms of leadership and management when I took on the role of the second team manager for Rakuten Monkeys.I have been reading a book by Hideki Kuriyama, who led the Japanese team in last year’s WBC, and have gained much inspiration from his team management philosophy.Furthermore, I enjoy watching MLB (Major League) games and the strategies of each team’s manager, especially the management methods in the postseason, which is similar to short-term decisive battles like this one, and I used them as references.”

——What goals do you currently have?

“It is the qualification for the 2026 WBC.The qualifiers will be held in Taiwan in 2025.We must definitely secure the right to participate in the WBC main tournament.Meanwhile, the Rakuten Monkeys have taken on new responsibilities and roles this year.Once the season begins, I plan to fulfill my role thoroughly and support the team in order to bring about victory.”

The Taiwan team made a strong presence in the WBSC Premier12.The central members were the players of the Rakuten Monkeys, and their Manager was Ceng Hao-Ju.What the Manager hopes for is the further penetration and development of Taiwanese Baseball.The day when the Taiwanese team sweeps the global baseball scene may not be too far off.

EDIT: Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)
TEXT: Kodai Wada