Shenzhen Bluesox claim historical victory on Chinese Professional Baseball opening night

The long-awaited and much-anticipated Chinese Professional Baseball Spring Games were inaugurated on the first day of 2026 at Zhongshan Baseball Stadium in Shenzhen, China, marking a significant beginning for Baseball in China as it evolves to a higher stage.

Xie Bin, the Vice President of China Baseball Association, stated during the inauguration ceremony, “The Chinese Professional Baseball is an exploration and trial of the socialization of baseball in China.”

“With the support of Shenzhen, a pioneer of reform and opening up and a city of industrial innovation, Chinese baseball will forge ahead to high-quality development and live up to the common expectations of all sectors.”

Four of the five founding clubs of the Chinese Professional Baseball, Shanghai Dragons, Xiamen Dolphins, Shenzhen Bluesox, and Fuzhou Sea Knights, will participate in the unprecedented four-week Spring Games. At the same time, Changsha Want-Want Happy will join in the Summer Games.

The opening ceremony was joined by Baseball Federation of Asia CEO Richard Lin, Secretary General Huawei Lin, China Baseball Association Vice President SUNG Pingshan, Hong Kong, China Baseball Federation President ZHUANG Qiming, among other dignitaries.

Former Olympic Volleyball gold medalist ZHAO Ruirui was invited to throw the ceremonial pitch.  

While the entire Spring Games will be played in Shenzhen, the CPB's inaugural game saw Shenzhen’s very own home team, the Bluesox, host the Fuzhou Sea Knights. Bluesox sent their import southpaw Kade Kozak, a former player of the Hamilton Cardinals of the Intercounty Baseball League, the top independent baseball league, to the mound as he became the inaugural pitcher of the CPB. Sea Knights also had their import southpaw David Brent Powers, a former minor league player with the Oakland Athletics, as the first pitcher in the club's history.

Both starting pitchers retired the sides in the first inning, and Sea Knights Powers struck out the side at the bottom of the first to register the first three strikeouts in league history.

On the top of the second, Sea Knights KUO Chunwei became the first hitter in CPB history to register a base hit.

Sea Knight launched the first wave of offense on the top of the third as they loaded the bases with one out and forced the Bluesox to go to their bullpen early in the game. Derrick Cherry, a former player from Winnipeg Goldeyes at the independent American Association, took over but hit the batter on his first pitch, forcing the historical first run of CPB history to be scored.

At the bottom of the sixth, Bluesox Landon Wallace first led off with a triple before Samuel Benjamin’s one-out base hit drove in the tying run for the Bluesox to make it a 1-1 game.

While pitching staff from both sides were able to keep the damage at the lowest level, the Bluesox offense exploded at the bottom of the eighth as they sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven times on five hits, four walks, including a hit-by-pitch, off three pitchers from the Sea Knights.

The Bluesox held on to the lead to take the historical first win, 8-1, of the Chinese Professional Baseball inaugural game in front of a sold-out stadium. Bluesox manager Ray Chang collected his first managerial win, and David Reckers, who pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing only one hit, was credited as the first winning pitcher in CPB history. Sea Knights ZHANG Yinfan became the first losing pitcher.

A total of 30 games will be played during the inaugural Chinese Professional Baseball Spring Games, followed by a wild-card game on 29 January and a best-of-three championship series starting on 30 January. Most of the games will be played at Shenzhen Zhongshan Park Baseball Field, while five games will be played at Zhongshan International Baseball and Softball Center.

The games are available on live streaming services at Yoku Sports, CPB Official Weibo, and Douyin.