TAIWAN – Chinese Taipei announced its official roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Friday and will travel to Tokyo, Japan for the opening round of baseball’s biggest international tourney with a young and inexperienced squad.

The Taiwanese roster will feature no players with major league experience, and just one with Nippon Professional Baseball ties – outfielder Wei-Chu Lin.

Detroit Tigers farmhand Yi-Jie (Chieh) Hsiao, who was slated to play for Chinese Taipei at the WBC, was a late scratch after being struck on his right arm by a line drive in a tune-up match in Australia on February 19. Also, several Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) refused to allow their top players to compete for the national team.

2009 Chinese Taipei WBC Team Roster:

CATCHERS
Chih-Kang Kao (Lions), Yi-Feng Kuo (Elephants) and Kun-Sheng Lin (Amateur).

INFIELDERS

Chih-Hsien Chiang (Red Sox), Yen-Wen Kuo (Reds), Cheng-Min Peng (Elephants), Sheng-Wei Wang (Elephants), Kuo-Ching Kao (Lions), Han Lin (drafted by Lions) and Yi-Chuan Lin (drafted by Bulls 2 years ago).

OUTFIELDERS
Che-Hsuan Lin (Red Sox), Wei-Chu Lin (Tigers), Wu-Hsiung Pan (Lions), Tai-Chi Kuo (Lions) and Chih-Yao Chan (Bears).

PITCHERS

Chen-Chang Lee (Indians), Sung-Wei Tseng (Indians), Hong-Wen Chen (Cubs), Fu-Te Ni (Tigers), Chi-Hung Cheng (Pirates), Chia-Jen Lo (Astros), Yu-Cheng Liao (Elephants), Yueh-Ping Lin (Lions), Ko-Chien Lin (Bulls), Po-Hsuan Keng (drafted by Bears), Kai-Wen Cheng (Amateur), Po-Yu Lin (Amateur) and Chia-Chun Tang (Amateur).

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Tags: Taiwan, World Baseball Classic