Taiwan, expected to compete with South Korea for the championship at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September, is forming a national team comprised of both professional and amateur players.

Local media, including the Liberty Times, reported today (July 4) that the Taiwanese national baseball team will select one player from each of the six teams in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

The deadline for the 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participating in the Asian Games to submit their entries to the organizing committee was July 1.

However, Japan and Taiwan, the biggest rivals of South Korean baseball, have yet to announce their final rosters.

According to local media reports, third baseman Liu Chi-hung of the CPBL's Wei Chuan Dragons and outfielder Chen Chen-wei of the Rakuten Monkeys have received call-up notices from the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association.

More players who have received requests for selection are expected to be identified soon.

Taiwan plans to actively recruit players currently playing abroad, including those in the U.S. Minor League Baseball.

Wang Yen-cheng, who plays for the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), is also among those selected.

In preparation for this, South Korean national baseball team manager Ryu Ji-hyun will travel to the United States in the middle of this month to evaluate the skills of Taiwanese national team players in the minor leagues, and will continue his scouting efforts by visiting Japan and Taiwan next month.

Japan is forming its national team with industrial league players.

South Korea announced its final 24-man roster for the Asian Games, consisting entirely of KBO League players, on June 11.

The Asian Games baseball tournament will be held from September 21 to 27 in Okazaki and Toyohashi, near Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

South Korea is aiming for its fifth consecutive championship.

(Photo: Yonhap News)