Yeh Chun-chang Reflects on Milestone 1000th Game as CPBL Manager

Wei Chuan Dragons manager Yeh Chun-chang is on the cusp of a significant milestone, preparing to manage his 1000th game in the Chinese Professional Baseball Organization (CPBL). This achievement places him in elite company, joining the ranks of legendary managers like Hung Yi-chung and Hsu Sheng-ming. Yeh's journey to this point has been unconventional, marked by a period coaching in the U.S. minor leagues, a path he initially found so fulfilling he envisioned staying there permanently.

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I never thought I would reach a thousand games, especially after going to the United States.

Reflecting on his career, Yeh expressed that he never anticipated reaching such a managerial landmark, especially after immersing himself in the American baseball environment. He credits an invitation from EDA Rhinos (now Fubon Guardians) in 2015 for bringing him back to Taiwan to manage. Before that, he spent three and a half years as a coach in the Cleveland Indians' (now Guardians) minor league system, a role he cherished for its lifestyle and the opportunity to learn. His initial plan involved splitting time between coaching in the U.S. during the season and guest coaching in Taiwan during the off-season to supplement his income and share his knowledge.

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Head coach is not hard work, it's suffering.

However, as Yeh recounts, "plans can't keep up with changes." Persistent offers from the EDA team led to a meeting where he intended to decline but ultimately accepted the position. This decision meant leaving behind the life he had built in the U.S., a choice he admits was deeply conflicted, particularly given he had a wife and children to consider. The demanding nature of life as a minor league coach abroad, coupled with family responsibilities, ultimately led him to return to Taiwan.

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The greatest sense of accomplishment comes from the company's affirmation of me and the feedback I receive from the players. You see players grow and improve, from immature to mature, from losing to winning, from lacking confidence to having confidence, from fear to enjoying the game. That is the greatest sense of accomplishment.

Yeh's managerial career has been punctuated by significant successes, including leading the underdog EDA Rhinos to a championship in 2016 and guiding the Wei Chuan Dragons to a championship in just their third year since rejoining the CPBL in 2023. Despite these accolades, he speaks of the immense pressure and "pain" associated with being a head coach, contrasting it with the less stressful coaching environment in the U.S. He finds his greatest satisfaction not in personal records, but in seeing his players grow, develop confidence, and achieve success, embodying the philosophy of player development that he honed in the minor leagues.

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I said we should develop our own players. This is my specialty. I learned this in the United States. Everything is done step by step, according to plan.