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Veteran Chen Chen-wei Advises Teammate He Pin-shi-rong: 'Swing Less at the First Pitch'

From Liberty Times · (14m ago) Chinese Positive tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Rakuten Monkeys player Chen Chen-wei advised teammate He Pin-shi-rong to 'swing less at the first pitch'.
  • He Pin-shi-rong acknowledged the advice, admitting he had swung at the first pitch twice in the previous game and was out.
  • The advice was written on the lineup board before the game as a form of encouragement.

In a display of veteran mentorship within the Rakuten Monkeys, seasoned player Chen Chen-wei offered a pointed piece of advice to his younger teammate, He Pin-shi-rong: 'swing less at the first pitch.' This seemingly simple suggestion, penned on the lineup board before yesterday's game against the Wei Chuan Dragons, carries significant weight in the context of player development and strategic hitting.

Senior player Chen Chen-wei specially wrote 'swing less at the first pitch' under He Pin-shi-rong's name on the starting lineup whiteboard.

— ReporterDescribing Chen Chen-wei's action before the game.

He Pin-shi-rong, a young player still navigating the pressures of professional baseball, readily admitted the validity of Chen's counsel. He confessed to having swung at the first pitch twice in the previous game, resulting in quick outs. This self-awareness highlights his commitment to improvement and his respect for the experience of his seniors. The advice underscores a broader strategic approach to hitting: patience, pitch selection, and waiting for a hittable pitch rather than rushing into an at-bat.

Senior player told me that if I really want to swing, I should pick a good pitch location and only attack if there's a chance to hit a long ball. It's okay if I get called a strike if I can't.

— He Pin-shi-rongExplaining Chen Chen-wei's advice.

Chen Chen-wei's method of delivering this advice—writing it on the whiteboard—demonstrates a subtle yet effective way of reinforcing the message. While He Pin-shi-rong admitted to still feeling nervous when speaking with senior players like Chen, the public display of guidance serves as a constant reminder. This interaction exemplifies the supportive team culture within the Rakuten Monkeys, where experienced players actively contribute to the growth and success of their teammates, fostering a collective drive towards victory.

Yesterday, the pitcher was good. If I got out easily, the next batter would have fewer opportunities to observe, and I wouldn't have a chance to reference it in my next at-bat, so it wouldn't help the team.

— He Pin-shi-rongElaborating on the strategic implications of his previous at-bats.
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Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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