From 'Mummy' to Baseball Star: Puyuma Survivor Wang Yu-fei Aims for Pro League

Taitung's baseball history is being rewritten by Wang Yu-fei, a player who survived the devastating 2018 Puyuma train derailment. Wang, once severely injured and wrapped in bandages like a "mummy," has overcome immense pain and a long rehabilitation to earn a spot in the upcoming Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) rookie draft.

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I want to go back to the field to play.

His journey is a testament to extraordinary willpower and an unwavering love for baseball. Despite moments of wanting to quit due to the excruciating recovery process, the encouragement from countless people and his pure passion for the sport fueled his determination. Wang approaches the upcoming draft with a calm mindset, valuing any opportunity to play on a professional stage over specific team preferences.

The Puyuma accident left indelible scars, including for former school principal You Shu-chu, who accompanied Wang's team on the fateful train. The trauma led her to retire early, but her concern for the students never waned. Recalling her visit to Wang in the hospital, she remembered his immediate declaration upon waking: "I want to go back to the field to play." Today, his return to the sport is a powerful, life-affirming story.

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Baseball is very important to me.

Wang's younger brother, Wang Yu-hsiang, also a talented U-18 national team player and recipient of the Presidential Education Award, cites his brother's unyielding spirit as his inspiration. The brothers recently signed baseballs at the Taitung Baseball Stadium, marking a significant moment in their athletic careers and Wang Yu-fei's remarkable comeback.

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Brother is my idol.