Chen Chieh-Hsien Plays Through Spondylolisthesis, Reveals Origin of Cheering Megaphone

Chen Chieh-Hsien, an outfielder for the Uni-President 7-ELEVEn Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), who has been benched for recent games due to spondylolisthesis, said that athletes must coexist with injuries, and it's just a matter of recovery time. Even without playing, he has been an effective cheerleader with a megaphone, and he also clarified the megaphone's origin.

Chen was originally in the starting lineup for the game against the CTBC Brothers on the 2nd, but was benched due to lower back discomfort. He also did not play in the game on the 3rd.

Lions manager Lin Yueh-Ping said today that he still needs to observe Chen's condition after pre-game practice. According to reports, Chen's lower back feels a bit stuck, which might also be due to traveling to Taipei City and not being used to the hotel bed.

"I'm getting older, and my back has never been good," Chen said with a laugh. "My spine has always had a spondylolisthesis condition and is prone to stiffness. I've had some treatment, but this old lower back problem can sometimes flare up in an instant during weight training. I spend more time on activation, treatment, and protection."

Chen indicated that his lower back has been uncomfortable again recently, affected by weight training and longer car rides. He also noted that the bed at the northern hotel they are currently staying at is indeed too soft, and many players have reported not sleeping well. The team has discussed changing hotels, but must consider the convenience of travel time between the hotel and the ballpark.

Even without playing, Chen hasn't been idle on the sidelines, using a megaphone to be an effective cheerleader.

"Let me clear this up for everyone," Chen said with a laugh. "I happened to get a megaphone from a brand event. I thought our team might need one," so he brought it back to the team. It makes communication and reminders with teammates clearer during away games.

Chen laughed and said his teammates are having more fun with it than he is. He also mentioned that when the team is in a slump, they try to create a good atmosphere. Regarding his injury, he said that players coexist with injuries over the long term; it's just a matter of recovery time, and he will always be ready. (Editor: Lee Ming-Tsung) 1150605