Congratulations to Wang Po-Jung on 100 Home Runs; Hideki Kuriyama Sees His Swing Back to Its Best
Taiwanese professional baseball player Wang Po-Jung achieved his 100th career home run, receiving a congratulatory message from former Nippon-Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama. Kuriyama praised Wang's swing as being back to its prime, anticipating his future success.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 17:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 17:32 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 18:40 (1h 8m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Su Chih-she, Taipei 1st) Taiwan Steel Hawks' "Great King" Wang Po-Jung achieved his 100th career home run in the CPBL on April 29. During today's celebration ceremony, Nippon-Ham Fighters CBO Hideki Kuriyama specially recorded a video message to congratulate him, believing that his swing has returned to its best this year, "showing the advantages unique to Po-Jung."
Wang Po-Jung accumulated 86 home runs in his first four years in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. In 2019, he moved to Japanese professional baseball and joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. At that time, the Fighters' manager Hideki Kuriyama is now serving as the Chief Baseball Officer (CBO). Later, Wang Po-Jung returned to Taiwan in 2024 and joined the Hawks, finally reaching the milestone this year, becoming the 28th member of the CPBL's 100-home run club.
Today, the Hawks hosted a pre-game ceremony for Wang Po-Jung's 100th home run at the Taipei Dome. Hideki Kuriyama made a surprise video appearance, first congratulating Wang Po-Jung on his 100th home run. He then expressed that he learned through Kenichi Iwamoto, head of the international department, that Wang Po-Jung's swing is back to its best this year, "not deliberately swinging hard, but mastering the ball in a simpler way."
Hideki Kuriyama also pointed out that as one gets older, physical strength might be affected, but he believes that through technique, home runs can continue to accumulate. He emphasized that 100 home runs are just a milestone, "No matter how far you push the record in the future, we will always cheer for you, please keep working hard."
Wang Po-Jung, interviewed by the media before the game, said that his first home run was with the Lamigo Monkeys under manager Hung I-Chung, and now his 100th home run was also hit under manager Hung I-Chung with the Hawks, "I really want to share this honor with him." He sees 100 home runs as just a process, "There are still many games to play."
This year, the Hawks invited legendary player Lin Chung-chiu as a guest hitting coach. Wang Po-Jung admitted that his "spiritual chicken soup" helped him face games with a happy mindset. Lin Chung-chiu also specially attended the celebration ceremony, and the two embraced. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150501
(Central News Agency reporter Su Chih-she, Taipei 1st) Taiwan Steel Hawks' "Great King" Wang Po-Jung achieved his 100th career home run in the CPBL on April 29. During today's celebration ceremony, Nippon-Ham Fighters CBO Hideki Kuriyama specially recorded a video message to congratulate him, believing that his swing has returned to its best this year, "showing the advantages unique to Po-Jung."
Wang Po-Jung accumulated 86 home runs in his first four years in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. In 2019, he moved to Japanese professional baseball and joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. At that time, the Fighters' manager Hideki Kuriyama is now serving as the Chief Baseball Officer (CBO). Later, Wang Po-Jung returned to Taiwan in 2024 and joined the Hawks, finally reaching the milestone this year, becoming the 28th member of the CPBL's 100-home run club.
Today, the Hawks hosted a pre-game ceremony for Wang Po-Jung's 100th home run at the Taipei Dome. Hideki Kuriyama made a surprise video appearance, first congratulating Wang Po-Jung on his 100th home run. He then expressed that he learned through Kenichi Iwamoto, head of the international department, that Wang Po-Jung's swing is back to its best this year, "not deliberately swinging hard, but mastering the ball in a simpler way."
Hideki Kuriyama also pointed out that as one gets older, physical strength might be affected, but he believes that through technique, home runs can continue to accumulate. He emphasized that 100 home runs are just a milestone, "No matter how far you push the record in the future, we will always cheer for you, please keep working hard."
Wang Po-Jung, interviewed by the media before the game, said that his first home run was with the Lamigo Monkeys under manager Hung I-Chung, and now his 100th home run was also hit under manager Hung I-Chung with the Hawks, "I really want to share this honor with him." He sees 100 home runs as just a process, "There are still many games to play."
This year, the Hawks invited legendary player Lin Chung-chiu as a guest hitting coach. Wang Po-Jung admitted that his "spiritual chicken soup" helped him face games with a happy mindset. Lin Chung-chiu also specially attended the celebration ceremony, and the two embraced. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150501