Liu Zi-jie Declares 'Game Over' Before Plate Appearance; Hits Walk-Off HR for Career First
Rakuten Monkeys' Liu Zi-jie hit a dramatic walk-off home run against the Wei Chuan Dragons on the 26th, marking his first career HR and securing a 3-2 victory.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 22:11
- 🔍 Collected: April 26, 2026 at 22:31 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 01:47 (3h 15m after Collected)
In a matchup between the Rakuten Monkeys and the Wei Chuan Dragons today, the Monkeys' Liu Zi-jie declared his intention to 'end the game' before stepping up to the plate in the bottom of the 9th. He delivered on that promise, hitting a walk-off solo home run to secure a 3-2 win for his team. Liu noted that the start of a professional baseball career is the hardest part and expressed his hope to maintain this high level of performance.
With the game tied 2-2 after the top of the 9th, Liu's blast ended the game instantly. This feat makes him the 12th player in CPBL history and the first in the history of the Monkeys' franchise to have his first career home run be a walk-off shot. Liu finished the game with two hits and one RBI, earning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors.
During the post-game interview, Liu shared his strategy: in his first two at-bats, he looked for fastballs but failed to connect despite the right approach. In the final at-bat, he targeted a forkball and aimed for a fly ball. He mentioned he didn't realize it was a home run until he saw the opposing outfielders stop moving.
Monkeys' Manager Tseng Hao-chu praised Liu, stating that the young player didn't need special reminders. 'He is a very thoughtful player who studies every pitcher's repertoire and attacks aggressively once he sets his strategy and position,' Tseng said.
Reflecting on the milestone, Liu mentioned that the career start is the toughest phase. He hopes to keep the momentum going and plans to take the home run ball home as a keepsake. In a humorous twist, Liu appeared on the MVP podium dressed in a maid outfit with twin tails. Although he jokingly admitted it was 'uncomfortable,' he did it because the fans wanted to see it, expressing his shock and gratitude for being able to perform so well in front of the home crowd.
With the game tied 2-2 after the top of the 9th, Liu's blast ended the game instantly. This feat makes him the 12th player in CPBL history and the first in the history of the Monkeys' franchise to have his first career home run be a walk-off shot. Liu finished the game with two hits and one RBI, earning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors.
During the post-game interview, Liu shared his strategy: in his first two at-bats, he looked for fastballs but failed to connect despite the right approach. In the final at-bat, he targeted a forkball and aimed for a fly ball. He mentioned he didn't realize it was a home run until he saw the opposing outfielders stop moving.
Monkeys' Manager Tseng Hao-chu praised Liu, stating that the young player didn't need special reminders. 'He is a very thoughtful player who studies every pitcher's repertoire and attacks aggressively once he sets his strategy and position,' Tseng said.
Reflecting on the milestone, Liu mentioned that the career start is the toughest phase. He hopes to keep the momentum going and plans to take the home run ball home as a keepsake. In a humorous twist, Liu appeared on the MVP podium dressed in a maid outfit with twin tails. Although he jokingly admitted it was 'uncomfortable,' he did it because the fans wanted to see it, expressing his shock and gratitude for being able to perform so well in front of the home crowd.