“Baseball Friends around the World” Series.Through this series, we hope to create a place where students who play baseball across the globe can learn from each other about the game in their respective countries and exchange tips for improving their skills. We will also feature players and teams connected to various countries that we encountered during our baseball journeys, introducing them through multilingual articles.
▼Other languages
・ Japanese
・Chinese
・Spanish
Introducing Taiwanese professional baseball player Wang Po-Jung!
Known affectionately as “Da Wang” (“Big King”) among fans of Taiwan’s professional baseball league (CPBL), Wang Po-Jung made history in 2017 by becoming the first Taiwanese player to win the CPBL Triple Crown. Since turning professional, Wang has appeared three times for the Taiwanese national team in tournaments like the WBSC Premier12 and the World Baseball Classic (WBC), proving himself to be a powerful hitter. Surprisingly, however, he did not hit a single home run during his high school career. Let’s take a closer look at the story of Wang Po-Jung.
Table of contents
1.Wang Po-Jung’s Hometown and Interview
2.His Student Years
１・Wang Po-Jung’s Hometown and Interview
Wang Po-Jung is from Taiwan in Asia.
Wang Po-Jung from Wandan Township in Pingtung County, located at the southernmost tip of Taiwan.
The region is well known for its adzuki beans. Thanks to its warm climate, it also produces fruits like pineapples, papayas, and bananas. However, the area is also home to mud volcanoes, which occasionally erupt and cause damage to crops, creating challenges for local farmers.(The photo shows a night market in Wandan Township. What kinds of dinners might be available at the food stalls?)
Photo Credit:景色は乗った後に(jougokei.web.fc2.com)
Wang attended a prestigious baseball high school located about four hours by train from his hometown, in New Taipei City on the outskirts of Taipei. He lived in the school dormitory during his high school years. New Taipei City is home to Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium and is a bustling urban area.
We had the chance to ask Wang about his high school days:
Q: How much did you practice on weekdays in high school?
"“We had classes until noon, then ate lunch. From about 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., we practiced. After returning to the dorm, I practiced again.”
Q: Were you able to balance studying with baseball?
“I tried my best! (laughs) The only time I could study was in the morning, so I studied just in the mornings.”
Q: What helped you improve your baseball skills in high school?
“Back then, the internet wasn’t as widely used, so I watched baseball on TV and mimicked professional players. I used to watch Major League Baseball, and when Taiwanese pitcher Chien-Ming Wang played for the New York Yankees, I also paid attention to Ichiro’s performance for inspiration.”
Q: Do you have a message for junior high and high school baseball players around the world?
“To all student players: enjoy baseball and don’t be afraid. Have confidence and show your abilities on the field. It’s important to have the courage to take on challenges and not fear failure. There’s a lot to learn from failure. Keep working hard!”
２・Stories about his school days
Wang Po-Jung attended Ku-Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School, one of Taiwan’s top baseball schools. A recent notable graduate from the school is two-way player Sheng-En Lin, who signed with the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball.
Though he now plays for the Taiwanese national team, Wang was far from making the 18U national team in high school and once even considered quitting baseball.
However, after entering university, his batting skills dramatically improved.
“In high school, I almost gave up baseball. But I realized how much I loved the game. So after starting college, I worked hard on strength training and practice. Even now, whether I’m doing well or struggling, I practice a lot and work on improving my weaknesses. That effort became the foundation for my confidence.”
Thanks to his dedication, Wang developed a stronger physique and evolved into a power hitter. In his senior year of university, he was selected for the Taiwan U-21 national team for the first time. At the inaugural U-21 Baseball World Cup, he batted cleanup and helped lead Taiwan to its first-ever championship.
The following year, in the CPBL draft, he was selected in the first round by the Lamigo Monkeys—fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player in Taiwan.
“To my high school self, I want to say thank you for not giving up on baseball. I’m also truly grateful to my family for letting me pursue the sport freely.”
After a successful four-year run in Taiwan’s CPBL, Wang made the leap to Japan in 2019 and spent five seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
“Japanese professional baseball was a dream destination even for us in Taiwan. The game in Japan is incredibly detail-oriented, and I learned so much from it.”
Now, in 2024, Wang has returned to the CPBL and is leading the TSG Hawks as a key player.
Thank you, Wang Po-Jung. We wish you continued success!
Interview, Japanese text by Myu Yasuda
Profile
Name: Wang Po-Jung (王柏融)
Position: Infielder / Outfielder
Throws / Bats: Right / Left
Date of Birth: September 9, 1993
Height / Weight: 182 cm / 91 kg( 5'11"/200)
Country: Taiwan
Hometown: Wandan Township, Pingtung County
Career History:Hesheng Junior High (Pingtung) – Ku-Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School – Chinese Culture University – Lamigo Monkeys (CPBL) – Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (NPB) – TSG Hawks (CPBL)
