Chen Chieh-hsien, Taiwan’s captain at last year’s World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12, on Sunday said he hopes his appearance in local advertisements since leading his team to a historic championship will spur domestic players to strive for excellence.
“This can set a goal for younger players. If you work hard and maintain a good image, you can increase your income through endorsements. It’s great that we, as baseball players, can showcase our influence on businesses,” Chen said at a public event in Taipei, adding that this is a common goal among his teammates.
Chen, named Most Valuable Player of the WBSC’s flagship tournament, has been hailed as the new face of Taiwan’s CPBL due to his growing influence on and off the field.
Photo: CNA
Chen has endorsed products from shampoo and scooters to water heaters. Since last month, he has also graced the pages of the Taiwan editions of Vogue, GQ and Elle, the latter of which featured him on the cover of its January special edition.
The recent success has fueled discussion about Chen’s chances of playing overseas.
“I embrace all opportunities,” the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions outfielder said.
Since the Premier12 in November last year, Chen has on multiple occasions discussed the brevity of an athlete’s professional career, saying that his goal is to maximize his value while he can, a sentiment shared by many players.
The five-time CPBL All-Star said that he has not ruled out entering the free agent market at the end of the year to explore offers from other teams.
“It’s natural for players to want to know their true value. It’s one of our motivations. If our skills get recognized, we can earn more to improve our lives and support our families. This is why we play,” he said.
The Lions have expressed their determination to keep and have started early contract negotiations.
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