Foreign hitters in CPBL struggle to last, Yeh Chun-chang says finding Steven Moya-level talent requires luck
Fubon Guardians' foreign hitter Luis Liberato recently left the team due to family reasons. Wei Chuan Dragons manager Yeh Chun-chang noted that finding foreign hitters like Steven Moya, who can consistently perform in the CPBL, requires luck and is constrained by budget. Liberato may have struggled due to lack of adaptation and comparison pressure with Moya.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 20:23
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 20:31 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 20:34 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Su Chih-she, Taipei 6th) Fubon Guardians' foreign hitter Luis Liberato announced his departure yesterday. The Wei Chuan Dragons, also a CPBL team that has sought foreign hitters as a戰力 in recent years, saw their manager Yeh Chun-chang point out that budget considerations are a limitation, and finding a Moya-type player requires luck.
The Guardians signed Luis Liberato at the start of this season hoping to boost their offense, but he requested to leave due to personal family reasons, terminating his contract early. It has been rare for foreign hitters in the Chinese Professional Baseball League to secure a long-term spot on the first team in recent years. Steven Moya of the TSG Hawks, who has played continuously from 2024 to this season, is one of the exceptions.
The Dragons used four foreign hitters in the first team in 2021 and 2022, but later reverted to an all-foreign pitcher configuration. Manager Yeh shared his experience: "Finding a good one is very expensive. If they're within budget and play well, that's luck, like Moya."
Yeh Chun-chang also pointed out that another predicament for Liberato was the public comparing him to Moya, but Moya had two years to adapt to the CPBL before excelling. "Liberato hadn't adapted yet. Taiwan isn't a place where you can just come and play well immediately. He didn't seem to have let loose yet."
Yeh Chun-chang gave an example, saying that former hitting coach Tommy Cruz once shared that when he first transferred to the Japanese professional league as a player, he also struggled. "He said the pitching patterns were different from what he expected, and it took him time to adapt." (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Su Chih-she, Taipei 6th) Fubon Guardians' foreign hitter Luis Liberato announced his departure yesterday. The Wei Chuan Dragons, also a CPBL team that has sought foreign hitters as a戰力 in recent years, saw their manager Yeh Chun-chang point out that budget considerations are a limitation, and finding a Moya-type player requires luck.
The Guardians signed Luis Liberato at the start of this season hoping to boost their offense, but he requested to leave due to personal family reasons, terminating his contract early. It has been rare for foreign hitters in the Chinese Professional Baseball League to secure a long-term spot on the first team in recent years. Steven Moya of the TSG Hawks, who has played continuously from 2024 to this season, is one of the exceptions.
The Dragons used four foreign hitters in the first team in 2021 and 2022, but later reverted to an all-foreign pitcher configuration. Manager Yeh shared his experience: "Finding a good one is very expensive. If they're within budget and play well, that's luck, like Moya."
Yeh Chun-chang also pointed out that another predicament for Liberato was the public comparing him to Moya, but Moya had two years to adapt to the CPBL before excelling. "Liberato hadn't adapted yet. Taiwan isn't a place where you can just come and play well immediately. He didn't seem to have let loose yet."
Yeh Chun-chang gave an example, saying that former hitting coach Tommy Cruz once shared that when he first transferred to the Japanese professional league as a player, he also struggled. "He said the pitching patterns were different from what he expected, and it took him time to adapt." (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150506
Stand with facts, every sponsorship from you is a power to protect press freedom.
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All text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.