Rookie Catcher Chang Yu-hao Stars in Guardians' Victory

Rookie catcher Chang Yu-hao had a breakout performance for the Fubon Guardians on Friday, achieving multiple career milestones in a single game. He recorded his first career hit, his first multi-hit game, and his first career RBI, all contributing to the Guardians' 6-2 comeback victory against the Uni-Lions. This win snapped the Guardians' three-game losing streak.

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I haven't had a hit recently, and the smile has disappeared from my face, and I didn't want to talk much. Getting the first hit felt like releasing pressure.

The pivotal moment came in the seventh inning when Chang drove in the go-ahead run, giving the Guardians a 3-2 lead. This clutch hit followed his first career base hit earlier in the game. Despite the excitement, Chang admitted to shivering during his post-game interview, attributing it to the cold at the Taipei Dome after being doused with celebratory water.

Chang expressed his relief and joy at finally contributing to the team's success. "I haven't had a hit recently, and the smile has disappeared from my face, and I didn't want to talk much. Getting the first hit felt like releasing pressure," he said. He credited his improved performance to focusing on his selection of pitches and maintaining a higher eye level at the plate.

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It's time to contribute to the team, and I'm glad I did it. How the first hit at-bat was done, the first RBI at-bat was copy-paste.

Manager Goto Mitsutaka praised Chang's overall performance, noting his strong arm in throwing out baserunners and his crucial offensive contribution. Chang successfully threw out two runners attempting to steal bases. The manager also mentioned that Chang's ankle appeared to be slightly twisted in his excitement, leading to his substitution in the bottom of the seventh inning.

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He is naturally a catcher with very good arm strength, and today he threw with more intensity than in regular practice, which was very impressive.