CPBL: Pitcher Wu Li-chen Earns MVP, Regrets Missing Photo Op with NBA Star Butler

Taiwanese pitcher Wu Li-chen was named the Most Valuable Player in a game against the Rakuten Monkeys, thanks to a dominant performance on the mound. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and striking out seven batters. Wu Li-chen's outing began with a perfect first 13 batters faced, a streak that ended in the fifth inning with a single.

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I was very excited to see him, I really wanted to take a photo with him, but I had to prepare for my start, so I couldn't get a photo, which is a bit of a pity.

Wu Li-chen credited his success to effective control of his fastball and breaking balls, following his catcher's strategy to induce weak contact and keep his pitch count low. He admitted he wasn't focused on the perfect game bid, prioritizing helping his team win. He also shared a connection with the opposing pitcher, Tseng Chia-Hui, whom he knew from the U23 World Cup and admired.

"I was very excited to see him [Jimmy Butler], I really wanted to take a photo with him, but I had to prepare for my start, so I couldn't get a photo, which is a bit of a pity," Wu Li-chen said. The presence of NBA star Jimmy Butler at the stadium added an extra layer of excitement to the game, though Wu Li-chen missed the chance for a personal memento.

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In the first few innings, I felt that my control of my fastball and breaking balls was very good. I followed the catcher's pitching strategy, threw the ball well in the right spots, and made the batters hit the ball ineffectively. I didn't pay special attention to how many batters I had retired, and before I knew it, I had pitched into the fifth inning.

Tseng Chia-Hui also delivered a strong performance, pitching seven innings of scoreless ball with two hits and four strikeouts, marking a career-best outing. He acknowledged the achievement but stressed the importance of continuous improvement. The game was a testament to the pitchers' skills, with both starters showcasing their talent in a low-scoring affair.

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The opponent is a local pitcher starting, Chia-Hui is also my friend. I have discussed pitching with him before. Competing on the same field today, I was quite excited. In a low-scoring situation, I told myself not to rush and to slow down my pace to deal with the batters.