Cubs' Jonathon Long Withdraws from Taiwan
Spring training updates on Taiwanese players ahead of World Baseball Classic
As national teams finalize their rosters and report to their respective World Baseball Classic (WBC) pool locations, injuries have affected a couple countries pretty dramatically. For Team USA, Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, whose mother is from Taiwan and who had a nonzero chance of representing Taiwan, suffered a broken hamate bone and underwent surgery. Carroll’s spot was filled by the Red Sox’s Roman Anthony.
Team Taiwan arrived in Miyazaki on Sunday. Like Team USA, it was also impacted by an injury, though perhaps a less serious one. Others have left spring training in the U.S. for Japan to join their national team, which will face NPB’s SoftBank Hawks farm team in its final tune-up game.1
Jonathon Long sprains elbow
First, the big news is Jonathon Long. He was arguably the biggest get for Taiwan’s 2026 Classic run. Coming off a strong season with the Iowa Cubs and earning the Cubs’ minor league player of the year award for 2025, Long is known for his batting prowess. A top first base prospect, he was invited to the Cubs’ major-league spring training camp this year and has a chance to be called up this year.
On February 21, Long sprained his left elbow in a collision with a runner and exited a Cactus League game early. Though preliminary checks found no bone fractures, the team’s staff indicated his recovery schedule would take longer. Thus, instead of joining the Taiwanese team for the WBC, he withdrew from the tournament.
This news is devastating for Team Taiwan, whose high hopes hinged on its ability to recruit Taiwanese American players and Taiwanese-born players in the MLB and NPB systems.2 Long was near the top of their wish list.
Long will be replaced by Brothers outfielder Cheng-Jui Sung. You may recall Sung’s diving catch in the WBC qualifiers last year, where he went 5-for-9 with a home run.
Stuart Fairchild makes diving catch
Speaking of diving catches, outfielder Stuart Fairchild, who signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians late last year, made a diving catch and turned a 7-4-3 double play on the same day Long suffered his injury. Fairchild, who was the other Taiwanese American to join Team Taiwan, appeared in three spring training games with the Guardians before flying to Taiwan to join the national team.
Fairchild’s mother is from Taiwan, and he was in good spirits after arriving in Taiwan. He joined the team at Taipei Dome and hit some balls during batting practice on pitches thrown by former MLB pitcher Wei-Yin Chen. At a media event, he cited catcher Lyle Lin, who played in the American Association last year, as a significant factor in his decision to play for Taiwan.
Other Taiwanese prospects
Tsung-Che Cheng had quite the start to the year. After being designated for assignment by the Pirates, he was claimed then DFA’d by the Rays. Then by the Mets. Then by the Nationals. Then, finally, by the Red Sox, who gave him a spot in spring training camp. He appeared in five games this spring.
Lefthander Yu-Min Lin was invited to the Diamondbacks’ major league camp this spring. In his sole game this spring, he gave up two runs over 1.2 inning, though he also struck out two. Lin is rumored to be the starter for Taiwan’s first game against Australia.
Athletics prospect lefthander Wei-En Lin also made a couple of appearances this spring training as a non-roster invitee. Both Lins have been reassigned to minor league camp prior to joining the Taiwanese team in Japan.
Kai-Wei Teng, who was traded to the Astros and who is not playing in the WBC, has made a couple of appearances as well. In his debut with the Astros on February 24, he struck out two Mets batters over two scoreless innings. After starting a few games for the Giants last season, Teng is vying for a bullpen spot this year.
A tune-up game against the Orix Buffaloes farm team was originally scheduled for Monday but was canceled due to rain.
As summarized previously, players in foreign leagues represented almost 50% of Taiwan’s roster this year.