CTBA takes charge of Taiwan amateur reserve players

11/01/2012

In a major step to revitalize amateur baseball, CTBA (Chinese Taipei Baseball Association) has taken charge to establish two teams of a total 58 top-selection amateur players from all corners of Taiwan.

In a major step to revitalize amateur baseball, CTBA (Chinese Taipei Baseball Association) has taken charge to establish two teams of a total 58 top-selection amateur players from all corners of Taiwan.

CTBA, the national federation body for baseball development in Taiwan, presented the coaching staff and the player roster, as well as outlining the set-up structure in a news briefing today (Wed, Jan. 11, 2011).

The two squads (Blue Team and White Team), each with 29 junior players averaging around 19 to 20 years of age, are to receive regimented training in baseball fundamentals and will compete in an amateur circuit starting in March.

Previously, these amateur baseballers are taken under the wings by the farm teams of Taiwan’s four pro baseball (CPBL) clubs, however, there were difference of opinions on its effectiveness and issues of proper player development.

CTBA is joined by the National Sports Council body for committing financial resources and providing use of training facilities, as well as putting together an “All-Star” line-up of ex-players for the coaching staff.

Heading up the coaching staff is Wang Kuang-Hui (known as “Mr. Popularity” when he was a star player for the CPBL Brother Elephants in the 1990s), who is assisted by six other well-known retired baseballers.

Wang said, “Besides training and improving players’ fundamental skills, we have to educate them on good moral conducts.  In the future, when these players make it into the pro clubs or join amateur league teams, their moral conduct is the most important thing.”

Another famous coach joining in is Kaku Taigen (in a Technical Adviser role), who was a star pitcher for Japan’s Seiibu Lions Dynasty (1980s to 1990s) and also skippered the national Taiwan squad – for the IBAF Baseball World Cup and Asian Baseball Championships in 2007.

Kaku (whose Taiwanese name is Kuo Tai-Yuan, told the gathered media, “It’s good to return in a coaching role, for me to contribute my experience and to develop amateur players in Taiwan.  These players have lots of room to improve.  I hope in the near future we can get them catch up to the skill levels as those in Japan and South Korea.”

These amateur players will form the reserve squads for Taiwan’s junior national team, with many of them to see action in the upcoming IBAF international baseball tournaments.