Taipei: CTBC Brothers shortstop Chiang Kun-yu has been voted the most popular all-star of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the 2026 season. This announcement was made during a press conference in Taipei, where the league officially unveiled the rosters for the upcoming All-Star Game weekend.
According to Focus Taiwan, Chiang garnered an impressive 579,003 online votes, securing his position as the league's most popular player for the second consecutive year and the third time overall, having previously earned the title in 2023 and 2025. In a prerecorded message, Chiang expressed gratitude to his fans for their support, as he was unable to attend the press conference due to the impending birth of his child.
The CPBL also revealed that Rakuten Monkeys manager Tseng Hao-jiu will lead the fan-voted Team Star, while Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions coach Kao Chih-kang will manage Team Taiwan. The two teams are set to play at the Taipei Dome on July 18 and 19. Team Taiwan, composed of players eligible for the 2026 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC), is anticipated to offer a glimpse of the squad representing Taiwan later this year.
CTBC Brothers players dominated the popularity rankings, with all 10 top spots occupied by them. Following Chiang, Brothers second baseman Yueh Tung-hua received 572,358 votes, and outfielder Sung Sheng-jui collected 520,351 votes. Despite currently holding the last place in the six-franchise CPBL with an 18-34 record, the team's players remain popular, likely due to their historical success, including 10 CPBL Taiwan Series Championships.
CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-chang emphasized that the All-Star Games should focus on showcasing a different side of the players and providing unique moments for fans, beyond the usual game results. This year's event will feature three retired legends joining each team, including former Uni-President Lions first baseman Kao Kuo-ching.
In a lighter moment, Brothers right-hander Nivaldo Rodriguez, selected as a replacement All-Star pitcher, humorously expressed his intent to participate in a hitting contest, aspiring to be "Venezuela's Shohei Ohtani." Team Taiwan infielder Wang Nian-hao also amused attendees by saying he hopes to play center field, a position he has yet to try, with manager Kao Chih-kang promising to consider the idea before the games begin.