Hsu Jo-hsi Cheers Online Before Home Run; Liu Ji-hong: Hope He Pitches Well Too
Wei Chuan Dragons' Liu Ji-hong hit a 2-run home run to turn the game around. Former teammate Hsu Jo-hsi, currently playing in Japan, was watching and cheering via the team's online broadcast, a warm gesture Liu deeply appreciated.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 22:26
- 🔍 Collected: April 18, 2026 at 22:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 22:56 (24 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (Reporter Su Chih-she, Taipei, 18th) - Trailing 0-1, CPBL Wei Chuan Dragons infielder Liu Ji-hong hit a 2-run home run to turn the tide. Only after the game did Liu learn that his former teammate Hsu Jo-hsi was cheering him on from overseas via a live stream. Liu smiled and said he hopes Hsu pitches well in the Japanese professional league.
The Dragons trailed 0-1 until the bottom of the 6th inning, when Liu Ji-hong hit a 2-run homer to take the lead. They then scored a massive 6 runs in the 8th inning to ultimately defeat the CTBC Brothers 8-1. Manager Yeh Chun-chang mentioned in the post-game interview that although the score widened later, every inning of this game was crucial. Noting the excellent pitchers on every team this year, he said, 'It shows our baseball is improving.'
Right before Liu Ji-hong hit that game-winning home run, Hsu Jo-hsi, who is currently playing for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in NPB, had just logged into the Wei Chuan Dragons' proprietary channel 'Dragon TV' to watch. Seeing Liu hit the homer, he happily commented, 'It must be because I came in.'
When asked after the game if he felt any 'mystical power' blessing him when he homered, Liu Ji-hong instantly replied, 'No.' He only learned of the little backstory when staff informed him later. However, Liu said he received Hsu's warm encouragement, adding, 'I hope he pitches well; he probably hopes we win, too.'
The Dragons built strong momentum following that home run, which Liu Ji-hong felt on the field. Notably, this homer landed near the left-field tent area—a spot Liu had previously damaged with a hit. This time, he was completely unfazed because the team's general manager had already generously issued a 'liability waiver,' telling him, 'Hit as many as you can, we won't send you the invoice, break as many as you want.'
The Dragons trailed 0-1 until the bottom of the 6th inning, when Liu Ji-hong hit a 2-run homer to take the lead. They then scored a massive 6 runs in the 8th inning to ultimately defeat the CTBC Brothers 8-1. Manager Yeh Chun-chang mentioned in the post-game interview that although the score widened later, every inning of this game was crucial. Noting the excellent pitchers on every team this year, he said, 'It shows our baseball is improving.'
Right before Liu Ji-hong hit that game-winning home run, Hsu Jo-hsi, who is currently playing for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in NPB, had just logged into the Wei Chuan Dragons' proprietary channel 'Dragon TV' to watch. Seeing Liu hit the homer, he happily commented, 'It must be because I came in.'
When asked after the game if he felt any 'mystical power' blessing him when he homered, Liu Ji-hong instantly replied, 'No.' He only learned of the little backstory when staff informed him later. However, Liu said he received Hsu's warm encouragement, adding, 'I hope he pitches well; he probably hopes we win, too.'
The Dragons built strong momentum following that home run, which Liu Ji-hong felt on the field. Notably, this homer landed near the left-field tent area—a spot Liu had previously damaged with a hit. This time, he was completely unfazed because the team's general manager had already generously issued a 'liability waiver,' telling him, 'Hit as many as you can, we won't send you the invoice, break as many as you want.'