10/12/2023 2 Minute Read

Japan defeat Chinese Taipei to win Asian Baseball Championship, both qualify with Korea for WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup

The newly built Taipei Dome welcomed the largest crowd since its inauguration and set a new attendance record for this year’s Asian Baseball Championship, with 21,013 fans to witness Japan clinch their 20th title in the history of the Asian Baseball Championship.

TAIPEI, Taiwan | Japan defeated Chinese Taipei in the championship final game of the XXX BFA Asian Baseball Championship in Taipei Dome, 1-0, clinching their 20^th title in the history of the tournament and the seventh in the past nine editions.

Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Korea will represent Asia, in addition to the hosts China, in the V WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup next year in Shaoxing.

Japan advanced to the championship final undefeated. They beat Chinese Taipei, 1-0, in extra innings in the Super Round. Mizuki Kato started for Japan in the championship game and pitched four scoreless innings. At the same time, the Chinese Taipei manager handed the ball to their ace Jo-Hsi Hsu, who won the opening game of the Championship against Korea.

Kato pitched six scoreless innings while giving up five hits and struck out four, and Hsu countered with eight strikeouts in five innings while giving up just four hits. A Chinese Taipei throwing error in the third proved costly. Japan capitalized on it, driving in the first and only run of the night.

Japan’s bullpen successfully shut down Chinese Taipei bats to maintain the one-run lead and only scattered two hits over three innings. Chinese Taipei had a chance in the top of the ninth, but a double play executed by Japan set the tone of the game before closer Shuichiro Kayo struck out Sheng-Ping Chen to end the game.

Bronze medal game: Korea defeat the Philippines

During the bronze medal game, Korea starting pitcher Donghyeok Kim no-hit the Philippines and fanned four in five innings before handing the game to the bullpen for another four scoreless innings.

The Philippines' starting pitcher Romeo Jasmin Jr. only gave up two runs in the first six innings and kept his team in the game.

In the seventh inning, Korea broke away by scoring five runs on five hits and three walks en route to winning the bronze medal, 7-0, for the ninth time in the history of the Asian Baseball Championship. The Philippines ranked fourth for the first time since 2017.

Final Standings

Japan
Chinese Taipei
Korea
Philippines
Pakistan
Hong Kong, China
Palestine
Thailand

Individual Awards

Best Hitter: Tsz Yin Wen (Hong Kong, China)
Best ERA: Steven Mufareh (Palestine)
Best Won-Loss Average: Steven Mufareh (Palestine)
Most RBI: Motoki Mukoyama (Japan)
Most HR: Joseph Matthew Daru (Thailand)
Most Stolen Bases: Junjae Jeong (Korea)
Most Runs Scored: Yukiya Yano (Japan)
Outstanding Defensive Player: Ching-Kai Lin (Chinese Taipei)
MVP: Motoki Mukoyama (Japan)

All-Star Team

Best Starting Pitcher: Shuichiro Kayo (Japan)
Best Relief Pitcher: Byeonghyeon Jo (Korea)
Catcher: Mark Steven Manaig (Philippines)
First Baseman: Namoh Iyang (Chinese Taipei)
Second Baseman: Yukiya Yano (Japan)
Third Baseman: Ji-Hong Liu (Chinese Taipei)
Shortstop: Chen-Fei Lin (Chinese Taipei)
Outfielders: Hsiao-Yun Chen (Chinese Taipei), Erwin Bosito (Philippines), Motoki Mukoyama (Japan)
Designated Hitter: Beomseok Kim (Korea)