Taoyuan, Taiwan – A wave of emotion washed over the Rakuten Monkeys players and fans alike following a hard-fought victory over Korea’s KT Wiz in the Asia Professional Baseball Exchange Series on November 9, 2025. The win was critical, preventing elimination for the Taiwanese team in the inaugural tournament held at Taoyuan Rakuten Baseball Stadium. Reports from the game described scenes of players in tears as the final out was recorded, a testament to the high stakes and national pride on the line.
The Exchange Series, featuring teams from the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), aimed to showcase diverse playing styles and foster baseball culture across Asia. The Rakuten Monkeys, the 2025 Taiwan Series champions, secured two wins in the series, while Japan’s Rakuten Golden Eagles and the KT Wiz each recorded a draw and a loss. This victory against the KT Wiz was particularly significant for Taiwan, offering a boost to a baseball program striving to compete with its more established regional rivals.
The atmosphere at Taoyuan Rakuten Baseball Stadium was electric throughout the series, with over 22,000 fans in attendance, according to the World Baseball Softball Confederation (wbsc.org). The emotional response from the Taiwanese players underscores the importance of international competition and the desire to elevate the nation’s standing in the sport. The win is seen by many as a positive step for Taiwanese baseball, signaling potential for future success.
The series also provided a platform for managers to test their strategies and evaluate their teams. Hajime Miki, managing the Rakuten Golden Eagles, finished the 2025 season with a 67-74 record (wbsc.org), while KT Wiz manager Kang-Chul Lee, who previously led his team to the Korea Series title in 2021, concluded the season with a 71-68 record. Rakuten Monkeys manager Kenji Furukubo led his team to a 62-51 record, qualifying for the postseason and ultimately winning the Taiwan Series for the first time under Rakuten ownership.
Looking Ahead for the KBO League
The 2026 KBO League season, officially known as the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League, is scheduled to begin on March 28 and conclude on September 6 (Wikipedia). The league will maintain its ten-team format, with the LG Twins entering the season as the defending champions from 2025. A notable rule change for the 2026 season will allow teams to add an Asian or Australian import player to their roster, alongside the existing three foreign players, with a spending limit of $200,000 for these players (Wikipedia). The league is also implementing adjustments to the pitch clock, allowing 18 seconds with bases empty and 23 seconds with runners on base.
Taiwanese Baseball Gains International Recognition
The recent success of the Rakuten Monkeys and the emotional outpouring following their victory over Korea highlight a growing momentum for Taiwanese baseball. Former KBO sluggers, including Lee Dae-ho and Lee Seung-yuop, are contributing to this exchange by taking on coaching positions in Taiwan and Japan (Korea JoongAng Daily). Lee Dae-ho will serve as a guest hitting coach for the Chinatrust Brothers during spring training, sharing his expertise with the team’s hitters.
The increased collaboration and exchange of knowledge between leagues across Asia are expected to benefit all participating nations. The emotional scenes in Taoyuan demonstrate the passion for baseball in Taiwan and the hope that the nation can continue to develop and compete at the highest levels. The CPBL schedule can be found on their official website (CPBL).
As the 2026 baseball season unfolds across Asia, the impact of these international exchanges will be closely watched. The focus will be on how these collaborations contribute to the growth of the sport and the development of talent in each region. The success of the Exchange Series suggests a promising future for Asian baseball, with increased competition and a shared commitment to excellence.
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