Fubon Guardians' Fan Kuo-chen Hopes to Unlock Home Run Derby, Jokes About Lin Che-hsuan Pitching

Fubon Guardians player Fan Kuo-chen, who is still recovering from a finger injury sustained during defense, hit a home run yesterday after a gap of over a month. He expressed hope to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby if given the chance, joking that he could ask Lin Che-hsuan to pitch to him, though he does not want Lin to play as a player for fear of injury. Fan injured his left ring finger while fielding on the 15th, causing swelling, but returned to the field on the 17th. Yesterday, he hit a solo home run against the CTBC Brothers, his first since April 17 and his 6th of the season. Although his finger has not fully recovered, Fan laughed during an interview, saying, 'It's not a handicap; the finger is fine, and I can play normally.' He also mentioned he was happy to hit a home run after such a long time. When asked about the All-Star Home Run Derby, Fan said he had never participated and would like to 'unlock' it if the opportunity arose, aiming to participate safely for charity without causing further physical strain. When asked if he wanted to play in the All-Star game with retired player Lin Che-hsuan, who still has eligibility to be voted in, Fan replied directly, 'I don't hope so.' Fan explained that he doesn't want Lin to play as a player, preferring he stay on the sidelines as a coach. He knows Lin's personality too well—if Lin gets on the field, he will push himself, and since he is retired, Fan worries about potential injury. However, if Lin were to participate in the Home Run Derby, Fan would be happy to have him pitch, noting, 'The ball is quite fast, and his accuracy is good.'