Chinese Taipei Classic Team Makes Last-Minute Roster Change: Li Hao-Yu Withdraws Due to Injury, Zhang Zheng-Yu Steps In as Emergency Replacement

The Chinese Taipei team will face Australia in its opening game of the Classic today, but a roster adjustment was confirmed before the match. Infielder Li Hao-Yu, who plays for the Detroit Tigers, has withdrawn due to injury and has been replaced on an emergency basis by Wei Chuan Dragons infielder Zhang Zheng-Yu.

The Chinese Professional Baseball League issued a statement saying: "Regarding player Li Hao-Yu's condition, after an MRI examination at the hospital yesterday, the team doctor initially considered it not serious, but the test data still needs to be provided to the tournament's medical group and his parent club for a decision. This morning, the Detroit Tigers formally replied to the tournament and the Chinese Taipei team. For the sake of caution, the Tigers organization hopes to continue monitoring the situation and decided that Li Hao-Yu should withdraw from the Classic due to injury. Therefore, infielder Zhang Zheng-Yu will take his place as the replacement."

Zhang Zheng-Yu, who was at the Wei Chuan Dragons' spring training, received the notification and immediately traveled from Yunlin to Taoyuan Airport via high-speed rail yesterday to catch a flight to Japan. He arrived safely in Tokyo that evening and reported to the Chinese Taipei team. The Classic's official organizers have completed the approval procedures for Zhang Zheng-Yu replacing Li Hao-Yu.

In the warm-up game against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' second team on March 3, Li Hao-Yu started as the second baseman and batted second. He had 1 hit in 4 at-bats. In the seventh inning with runners on first and second, he swung at a high pitch after one strike and then immediately signaled to the home plate umpire for a timeout. Manager Tseng Hao-Chu from the dugout was about to go check on him but was waved off by Li. Li then hit the ball to right field where it was caught for an out, ending that at-bat.

On defense, although Li Hao-Yu committed an error in the first inning, he later successfully turned a double play, demonstrating his ability to adjust. After the game, Manager Tseng Hao-Chu said in an interview that the error might have been related to adapting to the field conditions, and he still had high expectations for Li's overall performance in the tournament. However, during the official practice day yesterday, Li Hao-Yu was not seen participating in training.