Taipei: Taiwan’s renowned pitcher Teng Kai-wei, who made his mark in Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, has announced that he will not participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) to better prepare for the upcoming MLB season.
According to Focus Taiwan, Teng, the only Taiwanese pitcher to appear in MLB over the past two years, stated his decision was difficult but necessary for his career progression. “After making my MLB debut in 2024 and trying different roles while accumulating game experience in a more competitive environment in 2025, I have become more certain that my top priority at this stage is to make sure I execute every detail well so that I can move steadily toward my next goal,” he expressed in a statement released through his agency.
In his MLB stint, Teng played in 12 games, including seven starts in eight outings in 2025, striking out 46 batters with a 7.30 earned run average (ERA) over 40 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old pitcher emphasized that his decision was made after careful evaluation of his condition and career aspirations, thanking Team Taiwan’s coaching staff for their invitation and understanding.
Tsai Chi-chang, the commissioner of Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), commented on Teng’s decision. He acknowledged the significance of Teng’s absence but respected his choice, expressing confidence that the coaching staff would maximize the potential of the available players in preparation for the tournament.
Team Taiwan is set to commence training on Thursday, though the provisional 43-man roster remains unannounced. While Teng’s pitching prowess, including his breaking balls, is recognized, his control issues were evident in previous games, such as his 2023 WBC appearance against Panama.
South Korean media outlet MK Sports reported that Teng’s absence could be advantageous for South Korea, which shares a group with Taiwan in the WBC’s first round. The group also includes defending champion Japan, the Czech Republic, and Australia, with only the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals.