"Mailiao's Chen Chieh-Hsien" Chen Tsung-Wei Shines with 3 Hits and 4 RBIs at Yu-Shan Cup, Showing Great Hitting Potential

Central News Agency Report (Reporter: Hsieh Ching-Wen, New Taipei, June 15)

Chen Tsung-Wei, nicknamed 'Mailiao's Chen Chieh-Hsien,' delivered a crucial game-tying double in extra innings and recorded 3 hits with 4 RBIs, helping Yunlin County defeat Nantou 7-6 in the 9th inning of extra time at the Yu-Shan Cup senior high school baseball tournament. Head coach Wu Ping-Lun praised Chen's performance and expressed confidence that with further improvement, he could become an outstanding hitter.

In the 115th Yu-Shan Cup, Yunlin County faced off against Nantou County. Chen, batting fourth and playing right field, started strong with a base hit in the first inning that drove in the team's first run. He added an RBI double in the fifth inning and then delivered a game-tying double in the bottom of the 9th during extra innings, finishing with 3 hits and 4 RBIs—a standout offensive performance.

Yunlin head coach Wu Ping-Lun stated that Chen fulfilled his role as a cleanup hitter exceptionally well. He noted that Chen previously had a high strikeout rate due to attacking breaking balls too early, but after being advised to let the ball travel deeper into the strike zone, he showed significant improvement in this game.

Chen possesses strong raw power, and Coach Wu believes that with better pitch tracking and combined with his strength, Chen has the potential to become an excellent hitter. Defensively, Chen has a strong throwing arm, suitable not only for the outfield but also for first base.

Chen said that during his extra-inning at-bat, his sole focus was on bringing his teammates home. After a disappointing performance last summer due to injury, he has been adjusting his game and only recently regained his rhythm before this tournament. He assessed that his contact rate has improved throughout high school, making his hitting more consistent and powerful.

Confident in his hitting ability, Chen mentioned that he primarily played first base before shifting to the outfield in his second semester of 11th grade. He aims to master multiple defensive positions to boost his draft prospects. However, he plans to first join a university baseball team for one or two years of development before pursuing the professional draft.

Jokingly, Chen said coaches often tell him he's handsome, and he has nicknamed himself 'Mailiao's Chen Chieh-Hsien.' He closely follows the performance of Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions' Chen Chieh-Hsien in the CPBL. Teammates say he resembles the rapper Soft Lipa. (Edited by Chang Ya-Ching) 1150615