Tokyo: Hsu Jo-hsi will take the mound for Team Taiwan in their critical World Baseball Classic (WBC) opener against Australia on Thursday. The announcement was made by team manager Tseng Hao-jiu, emphasizing the significance of the match for Taiwan's progression in the tournament. According to Focus Taiwan, Tseng highlighted Hsu's preparedness and experience in high-pressure situations as key reasons for his selection. Hsu, who recently signed with the Japanese pro team Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, has demonstrated his ability to control the game in previous outings. At a press event in Tokyo, Hsu expressed his intent to stay focused and perform to the best of his abilities, recognizing the importance of the game for the team. In preparation for the opener, Hsu participated in a bullpen session during Taiwan's warm-up game against the Hawks' farm team, making adjustments to his breaking ball. Hsu's previous performance against the Hawks in Taipei on February 26 saw him pitch three scoreless innings, showcasing h is fastball reaching speeds of 99 mph. Hsu's impressive record in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in 2025 includes 114 innings pitched, 120 strikeouts, and a remarkable 2.05 ERA. His international free agency declaration in October led to interest from teams in both the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB), culminating in a lucrative deal with the Hawks. On the opposing side, Australia's manager Dave Nilsson announced that left-handed pitcher Alex Wells will start against Taiwan. Wells, who has MLB experience with the Baltimore Orioles, currently plays for the Sydney Blue Sox. In the past two seasons, Wells has maintained a 2.41 ERA and an 11-4 record over 19 starts. Following the game against Australia, Team Taiwan, competing as Chinese Taipei, will face Samurai Japan, the Czech Republic, and South Korea in the group stage. Only the top two teams will advance to the knockout stage in Miami, Florida.