Wei Chuan Dragons pick two-way player Liao Yung-Chuan second overall in CPBL draft

The Wei Chuan Dragons have chosen Liao Yung-Chuan, a standout "two-way player" from Nanhua University, as their second overall pick in the 2026 Chinese Professional Baseball Organization (CPBL) draft. General manager Yeh Chun-Chang expressed confidence in Liao's dual abilities, stating the team is considering developing him as both a pitcher and a hitter.

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Liao Yung-Chuan has good performance in both pitching and hitting. We are currently considering letting him develop in both areas simultaneously.

Liao impressed during tryouts with his skills and hitting power, making him a prime target for the Dragons. While Yeh jokingly mentioned Wang Chien-Ming if he had the first pick, he affirmed that Liao was their clear choice. The team believes Liao has a high success rate in hitting and will not face issues in that area. However, his defensive position and pitching development require further assessment.

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The success rate in hitting will be very high, absolutely no problem. His defensive position still needs to be evaluated.

Yeh noted that Liao has pitched less frequently, raising concerns about potential injury risks. The team will closely monitor his physical condition before finalizing his development plan. He also commented on the overall draft class, describing it as balanced, with most draftees unlikely to play in the second half of the season. Li Sung-Jui, a left-handed pitcher from Chiayi University, is considered the most game-ready among the new recruits.

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Because he has pitched less, the risk of injury still exists. The team will further evaluate his physical condition before deciding his future development direction.