Chen Kaiyou. (Information photo, provided by Secondary Vocational School)
[Reporter Luo Zhipeng/Kaohsiung Report]21-year-old infielder Chen Kaiyou was named by the Fubon Titans in the seventh round of the 2023 mid-season mid-season draft. He was born in Kaohsiung Chung Cheng Little League and Zhongxiao Youth League Little League. After graduating from junior high school, he went to Kochi Central High School in Japan to study and play through the “Taiwanese Field Baseball Study Abroad Support” program.
Three years in a Japanese university changed Chen Kaiyou’s life. He said frankly, “In junior high school, I was quite naughty. I had a very aggressive personality and a bad temper. It was only in Japan that I gradually improved. If I had not gone to Japan to study, I might not be able to play professional baseball now. It’s because of my personality problems.”
Chen Kaiyou graduated from high school and went to East Japan International University to continue his basketball career. After one year of studying, he returned to Taiwan to participate in the draft. He explained that considering that he was already 22 years old after graduating from college, no team might pick him in the secondary vocational draft when he came back. In addition, the coach of the college team trusts Japanese players, unlike universities that will give Taiwanese players a chance to play, so he decided to return to Taiwan for the draft.
Looking back on his four-year study and playing career in Japan, Chen Kaiyou said that what he learned the most was how to deal with people. Japanese people are more reserved and cannot be playful and polite. Moreover, the game adopts a single-elimination system. The coach usually pays attention to respecting others and whether small details are done well. “Daily life may affect whether the coach wants to use you. If you can’t do these little things well, how can the game use you.”
21-year-old outfielder Lin Weihan was named the 30th pick by the Taiwan Steel Eagles in the 2022 draft, and was also the last player named in that year’s draft. He was born in Yilan Samsung Little League and Samsung Youth Baseball. After graduating from junior high school, he went through the same program and became Chen Kaiyou’s college classmate.
Lin Weihan said that due to the remote location of the school, he could not return to Taiwan often. He had considered it for a long time before deciding to study in Japan. After discussions with the coach, the support of his parents, and the fact that his seniors were also at Kochi Central High School, he decided to give it a try.
Lin Weihan said frankly that the team’s strength is good. He and Chen Kaiyou didn’t have much chance to play in their first and second years of high school. They only became the main players in their third year of high school. After they graduated, the team reached Jiaziyuan.
After three years of training in Japanese universities, Lin Weihan said that he received help from many people and was very grateful to them. Originally, he and Chen Kaiyou were going to the same university. “It’s just that I had the experience of being bullied by the Japanese during college, and I was worried that I would have the same experience in college, so I didn’t go.” After Lin Weihan graduated from college, he returned to Taiwan to join the draft and became a member of the Eagles.
Free subscription“Free Sports” e-newsletter
Don’t miss out on popular events and star news
No need to draw, no need to grab. Now use the APP to watch the news and you are guaranteed to win every day. Click me to download the APP. Click me to see the event details.
