Chung Hsin Brothers clinch CPBL second-half title, as reported by Liberty Times
Chung Hsin Brothers clinched the Chinese Professional Baseball League second-half title, defeating TSG Hawks 12-1 behind a seven-inning, one-run performance by pitcher Logan, as reported by Liberty Times. The victory capped a dramatic turnaround for the franchise, which sat at the bottom of the standings with a 35.1% win percentage during the first half of the season.
From First-Half Languishing to Second-Half Championship
The Brothers secured the second-half title after entering the final stretch with a magic number of M1, aided by a victory over Fubon Guardians the previous day and Rakuten Monkeys’ defeat of TSG Hawks, according to Liberty Times. Pitcher Logan earned his league-leading 12th win of the season during the decisive game. The team finished the first half with a 20-37-2 record, representing a win rate of 35.1% that placed them at the bottom of the league. Liberty Times noted that the team’s overall trajectory mirrors historical outliers like the 2014 Brothers and the 1997 Wei Chuan Dragons, both of which secured second-half titles despite weak first-half showings.
Manager Hirano expressed relief following the victory, telling SETN that the fervent support from the team’s fan base provided vital momentum through their early struggles. Hirano credited team captain Wang Wei-chen as the season’s Most Valuable Player for facilitating communication during slumps, while also highlighting the contributions of younger players Chang Jen-wei and Chang Shih-lun in creating internal roster competition. With the second-half crown secured, the Brothers advance to the postseason, where they will face Uni-President Lions in the first round.
Out-Of-Contract Additions Bolster Championship Run
The championship run relied heavily on contributors acquired through the league’s 战力外 (out-of-contract) market. Relief pitcher Tseng Pin-yang emerged as a bullpen fixture after joining the top roster in late June and maintaining his spot through the remainder of the schedule, Liberty Times reported. Tseng recorded 22 appearances, one hold, and 16 strikeouts across 22.1 innings, maintaining a 1.0 ERA. Meanwhile, the league’s remaining non-playoff teams—Fubon Guardians, Rakuten Monkeys, and TSG Hawks—conclude their regular-season schedules, with the final matchup between Fubon and Rakuten determining the selection order for the upcoming draft’s second-overall pick under league regulations governing team rankings and playoff participation.
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