CPBL Homerun King Ngayaw Ake reaches 300-HR milestone
The all-time home run leader in the Chinese Professional Baseball League became the first player to hit 300 home runs in Taiwan's baseball history. Ngayaw reached the milestone with his eighth and most memorable pinch-hit homer.
TAOYUAN, Taiwan | With runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the eighth, Dragons manager Chun-Chang Yeh sent Ngayaw Ake to the plate to pinch hit against Monkeys’ pitcher Bradin Hagens. Three pitches later, Ngayaw sent the ball deep into the left-field bleachers and became the first player to hit 300 home runs in the history of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
It took the Taitung native 20 seasons, 1,590 games, 6,617 plate appearances and 5,760 at-bats to reach the milestone at 41 years and 105 days.
“It means a lot for me to get my number 300 here, and I am so grateful for the applause I heard from the Monkeys fans when I was rounding the bases,” said Ngayaw, who spent the first 12 years of his career with the La new/Lamigo franchise and played five seasons at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium.
“I was surprised and really moved when I heard my cheering song being played,” added Ngayaw.
He led his teammates to the outfield to greet the Dragons fans during the post-game celebration and heard his signature cheering song being played through the stadium speakers. “I had goosebumps when I heard it. I want to thank all the Monkeys fans for their past support and recognition today.”
The song Da Shi Xiong (The Big Brother)” from the 2001 movie Shaolin Soccer has been designated as Ngayaw’s walkout song since 2004, his rookie season.
Ngayaw started his professional career with La New Bears in 2004 and became the first player in CPBL history to sign with a new team (CTBC Brothers) after filing for free agency in 2015. There was speculation that his career may come to an end after the 2021 season, and his career homerun number 289. It would have tied Tai-Shan Chang's record.
The expansion Weichuan Dragons signed Ngayaw to a one-year contract in 2022 before re-signing him this year. Ngayaw broke Chang's record last year to become the sole home run leader in Taiwan's professional baseball history.
During his 20-year professional career, Ngayaw led the league in home runs in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and was named Best Ten seven times. In 2015 he led the league in on-base percentage (.469) and slugging percentage (.689) while carrying the Monkeys to their fourth title in franchise history and was named the Taiwan Series and the season's MVP. Ngayaw's popularity among fans can be seen from the All-Star voting record as he was named All-Star 16 consecutive years starting from his rookie season in 2004.
In addition to his achievement in professional baseball, Ngayaw Ake also owns an unparalleled international career. He first represented Chinese Taipei at 12 when he played in the PONY League in 1994. He then wore blue and white at various levels in WBSC tournaments throughout his academic years. He also represented Chinese Taipei in Asian Baseball Championships, Baseball World Cups (2003, 2007), Asia Series (2006, 2012), World Baseball Classics (2006, 2013, 2017), Asian Games (2006, 2010) and Premier12 (2015) before announcing his retirement from the National Team after the World Baseball Classic 2017.
Ngayaw currently serves as the President of the Taiwan Indigenous Baseball Development Association and is the Vice President emeritus of the Players Association.
CPBL was inaugurated in 1990 and has six teams, five playing at the major league level in 2023. The league is a WBSC associate member.
