Team Taiwan claimed their first-ever WBSC Premier 12 title in November 2024. The man at the helm was Tseng Hao-Ju, who also serves as the Rakuten Monkeys' farm team manager. We asked him how he navigated a field of powerhouses including Japan and the United States, what went into their preparation, how his players grew through the tournament, and what his hopes are for the future of Taiwanese baseball.

——What kind of preparation did you put in ahead of the WBSC Premier 12？

“I wanted to move the Taiwanese baseball fans with our performance more than anything else ― to be honest, winning the championship wasn’t something I was aiming for in the beginning. But as the tournament progressed, our team grew closer. And one step at a time, everyone started focusing on the same thing. We first set our sights on reaching the top four, and achieving that gave us the confidence to push even higher. In the end, we won the championship and etched our names into history.”

——What are some things you were careful about while you were managing the tournament？

“My role was to convey to everyone the idea that ‘you’re not alone ― we’re a team, baseball is a team sport, and moving forward together brings better results.’ We didn’t have a superhero with special powers. This was a championship won by the whole team. We all prepared together, and we fought together. I’m grateful that everyone believed in me. Players, coaches, scouts, support staff ― the entire team worked incredibly hard, and that’s what made the best possible outcome a reality.”

——What adjustments did you make for the games against Japan？

“Japan has been at the top of the baseball world for a long time. Their 2023 World Baseball Classic championship proved they’re the best team in the world. Instead of devising special strategies, we kept challenging them, searching for a way in, always watching for our chance. In this WBSC Premier 12, we faced Japan three times and lost twice before beating them in the final. By making constant improvements, we gradually closed the gap. That said, this championship isn’t the finish line ― it’s the starting line. The world is going to be paying attention to Taiwanese baseball now, and there will be even bigger walls waiting for us ahead.”

——Is there a Japanese player you were particularly impressed with？

“Japanese players are all fascinating ― they take care of themselves and are thoroughly trained. Among them, Tatsumi Ryosuke of the Rakuten Eagles, who is part of the same Rakuten family, stands out for his athleticism. I think he could even play as a pitcher. I’d love to have a chance to interact with him someday.”

——Do you think that Taiwanese baseball has changed since the championship？

“First, we’ve gained enormous confidence. And domestically, the excitement has been extraordinary ― it became a huge topic of conversation. Beyond player performance, I feel that scouting, scientific analysis, mental care, teamwork, and even fan support were all indispensable elements of winning. And now that interest in baseball is running so high, I believe we should be working to embed baseball culture even deeper into people’s daily lives. I want to create an environment where people understand baseball deeply, engage with it in various ways, and build careers across a wide range of fields connected to the game.”

——Were you able to draw on your experience coaching the Rakuten Monkeys when you were leading the national team？

“In my time coaching the Monkeys, I learned that failure is just as important as success. Professional baseball is a cycle of wins and losses ― there’s hardly ever a team that just keeps winning. Whether you’ve won or lost, you have to think about how to win the next game, come up with improvements, and put them into practice. That continuous process is everything. I’ve always believed that setbacks are what make people grow. So in this tournament too, after a loss I’d focus on how to win the next one. That process is what brought us to the championship. Being the Rakuten Monkeys’ farm team manager and the national team manager ― I feel these two roles complement each other. What I learn managing the Monkeys, I can apply to the national team in international competitions, and what I experience facing different opponents internationally, I can bring back to the Monkeys games. These experiences are enormously valuable to me. I’m deeply grateful to both the Rakuten Monkeys and Team Taiwan for giving me these opportunities.”

——Many Rakuten Monkeys players also competed in this tournament. Did you see growth in those players？

“Yes, I definitely felt them grow, when I saw them adapt flexibly to different environments and opponents throughout the tournament. The national team brings together elite players from different clubs ― players who are normally rivals on the professional stage. You have to understand each other’s strengths and collaborate as a team in a short period of time. The players took this WBSC Premier 12 as an opportunity to communicate a lot and work toward mutual understanding. They also had to devise strategies quickly against different opponents, and through competing against those opponents repeatedly, both the players and I discovered potential we hadn’t realized existed. That was a tremendously valuable takeaway.”

——What kind of environment do you think is needed for Taiwanese baseball to keep performing on the world stage？

“We need to get more people involved in baseball. That doesn’t just mean increasing the number of players ― it’s also important to develop expertise in various fields, including medical staff, trainers, and analysts. I hope that stadium facilities will be improved, and also that the education of coaches and staff, and investment in younger generations will become more focused and streamlined.”

——Is there a manager you look up to as a coaching reference？

“I spent five years as a coach under Manager Hung I-Chung, the only ‘1,000-win manager’ in Taiwanese professional baseball, and learned an enormous amount. When I became the Rakuten Monkeys’ farm team manager, he was a major reference for me in terms of tactics and management. I’ve also been reading books by Hideki Kuriyama, who managed Team Japan at last year’s World Baseball Classic, and his team management philosophy has given me a lot of inspiration. I also enjoy watching MLB games and studying how different managers make decisions, especially in the postseason ― the short-series format is similar to what we faced in this tournament.”

——What are some personal goals for you right now？

“Making it through the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifying round. The qualifying will be held in Taiwan in 2025. We have to secure a spot in the WBC main tournament. On the other hand, I’ve taken on a new role and responsibilities with the Rakuten Monkeys this year. Once the season starts, I want to fulfill my role properly and support the team in bringing home a championship.”

Team Taiwan made an enormous impact at the WBSC Premier12, with the Rakuten Monkeys’ players and Manager Tseng Hao-Ju at its core. The manager’s wish is for the further spread and development of Taiwanese baseball. The day when a Taiwanese team dominates the world baseball scene may not be far off.

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