Taiwan's struggling professional baseball league has recently been given a boost by the possible return of one of Tainan's favorite native sons. Dubbed the best hitter Taiwan has ever produced, Ching-fong Chen (
Fans, however, are divided over Chen's homecoming. Chen's dream of making it in the big leagues has long been shared by every baseball fan in Taiwan, young and old alike. Therefore Chen's recent announcement that he will stay with the Chinese Professional Baseball League was a big surprise for everyone from baseball officials and managers to the press and young baseball players, prompting both optimism and pessimism among baseball aficionados.
At a time when most talented Taiwanese players are leaving their baseball-loving nation en masse -- seeking a better life and contracts with Japanese or US baseball teams -- Chen's decision could be puzzling to those who don't really understand how hard it is for a baseball player to succeed in the US -- where every single ballgame relentlessly pits some of the world's best throwers against the most skilled batters.
The real baseball world is as cruel as any other industry and only a few people ever see their "American dream" come true. Over 95 percent of talented players from around the globe never get the opportunity to enjoy a standing ovation at a US ballpark. Chen's return, hence, should not be seen as a failure. Hopefully he can help to revive the fortunes of the local league, currently ranked a lowly third in Asia.
Cheng Kai-Chun
Taipei
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