Taiwan baseball is a force to be reckoned with, underpinned by a thriving professional system.
President Lai Ching-te receives Team Taiwan members at the Presidential Office. (Photo Courtesy of Presidential Office)
Premier12 features the WBSC’s top 12 men’s baseball teams. Taiwan, currently second in the Switzerland-based body’s rankings, has built a reputation through consistent performances at tournaments for all age levels, from the U-12 Baseball World Cup to the Major League Baseball (MLB)-organized World Baseball Classic (WBC). In women’s baseball, Taiwan ranks fifth globally after Japan, the U.S., Canada and Venezuela, reflecting the sport’s growing reach.
The newly opened Taipei Dome is a state-of-the-art baseball stadium that seats over 40,000. (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)
Taipei Dome is a world-class baseball stadium. (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)
Baseball, one of Taiwan’s most beloved sports, took root during Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945) and became integrated into the country’s national identity following a series of international youth baseball victories starting in the 1960s. “During a time of diplomatic challenges, baseball uplifted the nation’s spirit,” said Sophiyah Liu (劉柏君), Taiwan’s ambassador-at-large for sports diplomacy. “It has united Taiwan through an affirmation of national success.” Over her career, Liu has coached men’s senior high school teams and was translator for men’s national teams, including the 2012 Asian Baseball Championship and the 2013 U-12 Baseball World Cup. As a renowned baseball umpire, Liu received the International Olympic Committee’s Women and Sport World Trophy in 2019 and later founded the Taipei-based Taiwan Sport Forward Association to promote women’s participation in athletics.
Taiwan’s recent baseball success can be traced to a silver medal at the amateur 1984 men’s Baseball World Cup. In 2001 the rules changed to allow professional players to compete, and Taiwan won bronze against Japan on its home soil. Since then highlights for national teams include silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and gold at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, culminating in last year’s world championship. In another historic achievement, Taiwan secured a spot in the 2026 WBC after a triumphant qualifier held at the newly opened Taipei Dome in February this year.
Lai shakes hands with Wang Chien-min, pitching coach for the CTBC Brothers, thanking him for helping the team win the 2024 Chinese Professional Baseball League championship. (Photo Courtesy of Presidential Office)
Taiwan’s national team is primarily drawn from the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), established in 1989. With six teams and top talent returning from leagues in the U.S. and Japan, Taiwan stands alongside Japan and South Korea as one of three Asian nations with fully developed professional systems. Last October the first three games in CPBL’s annual championship were held at the state-of-the-art Taipei Dome, a fact that accounted for dramatic rises in in-person attendance at professional baseball games for the season at 2.7 million, up from the previous year’s 1.8 million. The CTBC Brothers clinched the title at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in central Taiwan, led by former MLB pitcher Wang Chien-min (王建民), whose coaching has been instrumental in recent successes.
Baseball has also become an acceptable career path for young athletes. “With a strong professional league, players are motivated to pursue the sport seriously,” said Chen Wen-shang (陳文尚), chair of the Taipei Baseball Association (TBA). The TBA, founded in 2003, now manages three baseball fields in Taipei’s Shezidao area, which host over 1,000 domestic and international games annually. Scouts closely monitor these tournaments, identifying top prospects for advancement to professional leagues at home and abroad.
Taiwan and Japan’s U-12 teams compete in Taipei. (Courtesy of Taipei Baseball Association, photo by May Pan)
A pitcher trains for a U-18 tournament in Taipei. (Courtesy of TBA, photo by May Pan)
According to the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration (SA), in the 2022-2023 school year Taiwan boasted a total of 383 elementary, 221 junior high, 186 senior high and 78 collegiate baseball teams. Baseball has become one of the most popular specialized sports programs in schools, and more than 100 government- and corporate-sponsored youth tournaments help cultivate Taiwan’s next generation of baseball stars.
Women Rising
A shift toward community-based baseball has emerged in recent years, which Chen notes is ideal for students balancing rigorous training with academics. In 2022 the SA launched a national community baseball tournament, jointly organized with the U.S.-based Little League Baseball’s Taipei branch and the TBA. The latest edition saw 188 teams across the gender inclusive U-10, U-12 and U-15 divisions, as well as a dedicated U-12 girls’ league.
A shift toward community-based baseball has emerged in recent years, which Chen notes is ideal for students balancing rigorous training with academics. In 2022 the SA launched a national community baseball tournament, jointly organized with the U.S.-based Little League Baseball’s Taipei branch and the TBA. The latest edition saw 188 teams across the gender inclusive U-10, U-12 and U-15 divisions, as well as a dedicated U-12 girls’ league.
Athletes compete in games organized by Taiwan Women’s Baseball Advocate Association in Taipei. (Courtesy of TBA, photos by May Pan)
Women’s baseball in Taiwan is also gaining momentum. “More schools and communities are working to draw young female athletes to the sport,” said Shawan Liao (廖立欣), secretary-general of the Taiwan Women’s Baseball Advocate Association (TWBAA). Liao, a lifelong baseball fan, played softball due to the traditionally male-dominated sports landscape and is determined to expand opportunities for female players. “Ideally, every level of baseball should have divisions for both men and women, just like basketball and soccer,” she said.
Taiwan’s first women’s baseball team formed in the southern city of Kaohsiung in 2001, followed by teams in Taipei and Taichung. A national women’s league was launched the next year, and in 2020 the TWBAA took over organizing the season. The 2024 edition featured 13 adult teams and five U-12 groups competing in more than 60 games across six cities and counties.
Taiwan’s first women’s baseball team formed in the southern city of Kaohsiung in 2001, followed by teams in Taipei and Taichung. A national women’s league was launched the next year, and in 2020 the TWBAA took over organizing the season. The 2024 edition featured 13 adult teams and five U-12 groups competing in more than 60 games across six cities and counties.
The municipal Chongqing Junior High School baseball team practices at a Taipei Baseball Association-managed field in Taipei’s Shezidao area. (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)
The TWBAA also conducts regular international exchanges, hosting joint observational trips and competitive tournaments with South Korea and Japan. In 2018 it established several annual baseball camps for young female athletes. “Girls often feel more comfortable learning baseball in a supportive, single-sex environment,” Liao said. Attending a TWBAA game last year, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) reaffirmed the government’s commitment to gender equity in sports. “We want every child to have the chance to pursue the game they love,” she said. With a deep-rooted passion for baseball, world-class talent and expanding opportunities for all players, Taiwan’s baseball future looks brighter than ever.