Kuan-Yu Chen: Chinese Taipei's most experienced Premier12 player looks back with fondness

As one of only five players to have featured in all three editions of the WBSC Premier12, Chinese Taipei pitcher Kuan-Yu Chen has a fond memory of the tremendous growth and transformation his Chinese Taipei career took across the tournament, which first started in 2015.

Thirty-four year old Chen is joined by Cuba's Alfredo Despaigne (38), Yoennis Year (35), Livan Moinelo (29) and the Netherlands' Juan Carlos Sulbaran (35) as the only players to have participated in every edition of the WBSC's flagship tournament.

“I was one of the youngest players on the team then (in the WBSC Premier12 2015), and I am the oldest now,” he told the WBSC during the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS Super Round. “The mindset of the game and the team, of course it has changed over the years.”

Chen was introduced to baseball by his baseball-loving dad and has been playing since elementary school. He was selected to represent Chinese Taipei many times during college and was later signed by the Yokohama Bay Stars of Nippon Professional Baseball. Chen spent 10 years in the NPB (seven at the major league level) and played for BayStars and Chiba Lotte Marines before he returned to Taiwan after the 2020 season.

In 2015, Chen was first selected to represent Chinese Taipei in the inaugural WBSC Premier12. “I was one of the youngest on the team, and all I thought was to pitch, pitch, and pitch. I was only focusing on my stuff.”

Chinese Taipei failed to advance to the Super Round and finished ninth. In his first appearance in the Premier12, Chen was pounded by both Canada and Netherlands, resulting a 16.20 ERA in the tournament.

“Things were different the second time I was selected to play in the Premier12,” Chen said. “In 2019, I wasn’t the younger one anymore, and I started to look around me in addition to focusing on my own duties. At that moment, I learned from the leadership we had on the team, such as Che-Hsuan (Lin), Hong-Wen (Chen), and others.

“Now that I am the oldest staff member on the team, I feel more responsible and have obligations in addition to the pitching duties. You are here to pass down the traditions and the integrities of the national team and to become someone that the younger staff of the team can look up to.”

“Every time you are selected to represent your country, it’s an opportunity to enjoy the special bonding with your teammates,” Chen added. “Every Chinese Taipei team is special.”

Chen appeared in six games in this year’s Premier12 and came up with a perfect 0.00 ERA while allowing only one hit and claiming seven strike outs. Chen was also dominating in the 2019 edition where he also struck out seven, giving up two hits while keeping his perfect 0.00 ERA.

“The 2024 team is also special too. It’s the trust that we have in each other and the fearlessness that was presented throughout the different phases of the tournament and helped us succeed.”