Pacific League Marketing ("PLM"), Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, in Taipei, Taiwan, on December 21. Chia-Hao Sung (Song Cha-hou) pitcher, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Yi-Lei Sun (Sun Yee Lei) pitcher held a fan meeting "Pacific Alliance FESTA 2025 IN TAIWAN" with two guests.

PLM held a fan meeting with both players last year, but it was held online. This year was the first time for PLM to hold the event offline, and since it was a rare opportunity to hear the two players talk live, the venue was filled with enthusiastic fans who gathered to watch the event, many of whom had supporting goods in their hands.

This year, too, "Pacific Alliance FESTA 2025 IN TAIWAN" was facilitated by Shih Soo-Chien, an analyst at DAZN Taiwan, which broadcasts and distributes games hosted by Pacific League six baseball teams in Taiwan. Here is what they had to say at the fan meeting, along with a look back at the season.

"I owe my 10 years as a professional to everyone who has supported me," said Chia-Hao Sung.

pitcher 's 10th season began with a turbulent start, as he suffered a meniscus injury to his right knee on February 21st during spring training and was forced to leave the team on the 25th. It was announced that he would be six months away from returning to games, and it was unclear whether he would return this season. However, with the support of medical personnel and trainers, he worked hard at rehabilitation and was promoted to the first team on August 29th. He pitched in 10 games, earning his first save in four years, finishing with one win, one save, and two hold, and ERA of 3.72, but he left an impression with the power of fastball.

After the season ended in early November, he made a triumphant return to the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning of the 2025 Taoyuan Asian Professional baseball Exchange Game held at Rakuten Eagles Taoyuan baseball in his hometown of Rakuten Eagles City, Taiwan, closer all three batters in eight pitches at a top speed of 151 km/h, demonstrating to Taiwanese fans the class of a first-string NPB player.

Looking back on this season, Sung pitcher said, "The doctor told me it would take six months, maybe a year, but I worked hard with a strong determination to get back mound within six months, first on the farm and then pitching in the first team. I came back with one month left in the season, and although I didn't pitch many times, I think I did my best," he said proudly.

When Ishiana asked him about his fastest fastball in the past three years with an average velocity of 147.3 km/h, he said that he felt the speed was increasing, and he analyzed the fact that he was able to rest during the rehabilitation period and train not only his lower body but also his upper body sufficiently. He also said that he was able to get enough upper-body training as well as lower-body training.
　
Regarding his most memorable moment this season, he mentioned that he was hit hard by the first pitch triple in his first visitor's game and home run in his first home game, both in the first hitter inning, after his return to the first team, which made him brace himself again.

He also mentioned that the game against The Fighters at ES CON FIELD on September 23, when Sun pitcher started, Ruei-Yang Gu Lin (Gulin Luyang) pitcher pitched the top of the 8th inning, and himself pitched the bottom of the 8th inning, was like a "Taiwan Day". When Sun pitcher praised Song's pitching, saying, "I have been watching Song's pitching on TV since I was a child, and I saw it live for the first time at the ballpark, and it was amazing," Sun rolled his eyes and laughed, and the audience laughed as he immediately recognized the phrase "since I was a child.

In addition, if Song pitcher reaches 138 days on the first-team roster next season, he will fulfill the requirements to obtain "domestic free agent (FA) rights" and will be "treated as a Japanese" from the 2027 season. This is a milestone that only two Taiwanese players, Kuo Tai-yuan (formerly Seibu Lions) and Hsu Ming-chieh (formerly Orix Buffaloes), have reached in the past.

When asked by Anna Shi what the hardest part of the past 10 years has been, Song pitcher replied, "I am an optimistic person, so I think the whole process was worth it, rather than having struggled with something. Rather, I am very grateful to those who have supported me and cheered me on," she said, adding that her goal for the upcoming 2026 season is to stay healthy throughout the season.

Yi-Lei Sun: "My first appearance in the first team was the professional mound I dreamed of as a child."

For the 20-year-old grandson pitcher, the "treasure of Taiwan", this season has literally been a year of leaps and bounds. At the end of February, he was selected as the Taiwan representative in the WBC qualifiers held at the Taipei Dome, and in the final game against Spain, he made a good relief as the third runner after Xu Ruoxi, who entered the Fukuoka Softbank, and made a great contribution to the main game, and in the first game of the "Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters 2025 Taiwan Series" between The Fighters and Taiwan professional baseball teams held in early March, he was appointed as a starter in the unification The Lions, and took a swing struck out with a 149km/h fastball from Lin Anke, who entered the Saitama Seibu Lions this off.

After the opening, he appealed in the second team, and when he was registered under control on May 22, he made his first appearance in the first team in the ninth inning of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks game on the same day, in a tense situation of 3-3, and made his first hold with two runs scoreless. On May 27, he made his first professional save as the youngest player in the club, and on August 11, he also experienced his first professional start. He pitched in 9 games, 0 wins, 2 losses, 1 save, 4 hold, and ERA 5.11 .

Before the start of the season, Son's pitcher was to be promoted to the regular team. He didn't expect to be promoted so early in late May, but his continued strong performances in the minor leagues gave him confidence, and just as he began to think, "Maybe," he was told by his interpreter, "Pack your bags and head to Hokkaido right away." Incidentally, Son said he had wanted to wear number 96 since he joined the team, and he made the decision immediately.
　
While his reaction differed from that of his "senior" friend Song, who said he was so overwhelmed with emotion that he burst into tears on the phone after receiving notification of his promotion to the regular team on July 31, the registration deadline in 2017, pitcher also saw his own image on the vision screen as he headed from bullpen at ES CON FIELD to mound May 22 and felt moved, thinking, "It's the same scene I saw on TV as a child. I'm standing there now."
　
When asked which batter made the biggest impression on him in his first start against The Hawks on August 11, he immediately answered Kensuke Kondo. "After he had me cornered in my second at-bat, he didn't swing at my tempting pitch, and with a full full count, he picked up change-up just above the ground with one hand doble. I'll never forget that," Song pitcher, nodding deeply and saying, "Kondo is a tough hitter."

He also explained the "tongue-sticking out" moment he showed on mound during the game, which became a hot topic on social media in Japan and Taiwan. MIZUHO PayPay Dome is also a domed stadium, but it's not as bright as ES CON FIELD, which has glass walls, so he couldn't see catcher Yuki Umebayashi 's finger very well when he was signing. He wanted to tell him to change the position of his finger, but with both of them nervous, it was difficult to communicate, so he ended up sticking out his tongue.

pitcher Song: "I'm in perfect condition." pitcher Son: "I'm inspired by Kota Tatsu and Ren Fukushima."

Apart from the event, the two also gave interviews to fans in Japan this year. Regarding his current condition, Song pitcher declared, "I have been rehabilitating for half a year, so I can play in the best condition not only in my lower body, but also in my shoulders and elbows," and it seems that he can expect full rotation next season.

He also emphasized his love for Tohoku following last year, saying, "The Eagles fans are very passionate. Not only during the season, but also this off, fans told me to do my best next season. I and my family all love Sendai and Tohoku," he said, thanking the local fans for their warm support.

By the way, Hayashi Anke, who will enter Saitama Seibu Lions, is a fourth-year junior in high school (Nanying Commerce and Industry in Tainan City) for Song pitcher. Song pitcher, the school, which also has strong ties with alumni, said that he was looking forward to the confrontation on the NPB stage, and on top of that, he said, "I want to think carefully about countermeasures from now on."

On the other hand, when I asked Sun pitcher about the "Japan-Taiwan baseball International Exchange Match", an exchange match between Fukuoka Softbank and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham scheduled to be held at the Taipei Dome at the end of February next year, the WBC Taiwan national team and two Taiwanese professional baseball teams, he said, "If I have the opportunity to participate, I will be able to face off against a wonderful hitter, so I'm looking forward to it." His eyes lit up.

In addition, when Yuki Nomura, who came to Taiwan to promote this exchange match, praised his grandson pitcher 's Japanese in an interview, he said, "I have no problems with my daily life. I also go on a trip."

After registering under control, I became especially close to Kota Tatsu pitcher and Ren Fukushima who were almost the same age as the lockers. pitcher says that he is inspired by them who have their own ideas firmly and work towards their goals. The rotation of The Fighters, including pitcher Kobayashi, when their talents are 100% blossoming, is something to look forward to just imagining.
　
Finally, we asked the two of them who "co-starred" at a PLM fan meeting for the first time in a year about their impressions of both sides. When Son pitcher breaking ball pitcher said about Song pitcher, a senior from training, "I think it's really amazing that he has maintained his condition in the Japan baseball world for 10 years and continues to throw in so many games (348 games) in the first team. So I am not surprised that it was registered under control. mound has calmed down, and in one year I have become much more mature, and I don't look like I am 20 years old. I'm looking forward to playing an active role in the first team."

2026 will also be a very important year for both players. Fans who have gotten to know them better and feel closer to them should support them as they strive in a foreign country. Next season, the number of Taiwanese players playing in Pacific League will be a record 10. Pacific League Insight will continue to provide information on players from Taiwan. Please look forward to it.

Written by Hide Komada