The Jo-Hsi Hsu Decision
Will he be the next great Dodger international signee? Plus some more news
It’s the Taiwanese baseball version of The Decision featuring LeBron James.
As widely expected, Wei Chuan Dragons right-hander Jo-Hsi Hsu declared international free agency at the conclusion of the 2025 CPBL season and reached an agreement with the Dragons to be posted. Now, where the 25-year-old “Son of the Dragon” ends up next year is a topic of great anticipation, anxiety, and excitement for Taiwanese fans.
To the evil empire?
Multiple sources have reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers, who just won the 2025 World Series, are interested in signing Jo-Hsi Hsu. If this happens, it will not only be the highest-profile free agent signing out of Taiwan in history, but also the first ever CPBL posting to MLB.
While the Dodgers have shown interest throughout the 2025 season, they were not the only ones. Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, and at least seven other MLB teams also sent scouts or front office staff to games in Taiwan. A rotation at Oracle Park that includes both Hsu and Kai-Wei Teng would certainly be interesting, but the prospect of Shohei Ohtani’s team signing a Taiwanese pitcher has been the talk of the town.
The Dodgers are not the only “evil empire” interested in Hsu. NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, who won this year’s Japan Series, are widely rumored to be targeting him as well. Hsu has visited the Hawks’ facilities and even had dinner with chairman Sadaharu Oh.
Hsu’s decision factors
Based on information that is already out there, it seems likely that he will be posted to NPB, but we will learn more in the next few weeks. There are a few major factors that can influence his decision:
Economics (advantage: NPB). It is widely understood that a contract with an NPB club will be more lucrative, at least in the short term. SoftBank is rumored to have prepared a JPY 1 billion (approximately USD 6.4 million) contract for three years, excluding performance incentives.1 The Dodgers, or any other MLB team, would likely sign Hsu as an international amateur free agent,2 meaning his contract would be capped by the team’s international bonus pool. If he plays in NPB for three years first, he will no longer be subject to the same bonus pool as a professional free agent.
Prestige (advantage: MLB). Although the Dodgers and SoftBank Hawks are top contenders in terms of prestige, as recent champions, the Dodgers clearly have the advantage of being an iconic franchise in baseball’s most prestigious league. The Roki Sasaki precedent shows that elite players are willing to forego higher pay for a chance to play in MLB. The prestige of MLB over NPB may well play a factor for other teams as well.
Culture and proximity (advantage: NPB). Taiwanese baseball is generally more similar to Japanese baseball, and the transition to an NPB team would be relatively easier. The proximity to home would be a significant consideration for his family as they prepare to move abroad.
Usage and role (advantage: NPB). Assuming Hsu retains his starter role with the new MLB or NPB team, the typical MLB five-man rotation allows four or five days of rest between starts, whereas NPB starters, like in the CPBL, typically pitch once a week with five or six days of rest between. Furthermore, MLB teams are likelier to see Jo-Hsi Hsu as a reliever, whereas he will probably fit in most NPB starting rotations within a few months.
What does this mean for Team Taiwan?
Perhaps the most important question for fans, besides which NPB or MLB bandwagon they will collectively jump on, is Jo-Hsi Hsu’s availability for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2026. He is undoubtedly listed on the national team’s unpublished 43-man roster and has confirmed his commitment to play for Team Taiwan:
I received the inquiry from the national team. I remain highly willing.
However, whether or not he gets to play in March may not be completely up to him. Lyle Lin, who was on Taiwan’s championship team in the 2024 Premier12, withdrew from the national team for the WBC qualifier after the Athletics signed him and invited him to spring training camp.3 Hsu may be restricted by his new team from playing in the WBC or other international tournaments.
Other news
An-Ko Lin, Uni-President Lions slugger and the other international free agent this offseason, signed a two-year deal (plus club option) with NPB’s Seibu Lions. Taiwanese pitcher Chen-Yun Chang went undrafted in the inaugural draft of the Women’s Pro Baseball League (former CTBC Brothers hitting coach Sarah Edwards was drafted by Los Angeles). The Black Panther national high school tournament enters the quarterfinals stage this week, followed by semifinals and the championship game this weekend.
For context, this contract value represents roughly the same as the largest contract in CPBL history, signed by Uni-President Lions star outfielder Chieh-Hsien Chen. Chen’s contract is for ten years.
Professionals, who are exempt from the international bonus pool, are defined as “players who are at least 25 years old and have played as professionals in a foreign league recognized by MLB for at least six seasons.” Hsu turned 25 earlier this month and has technically spent six seasons in a professional league—he was drafted by the Dragons in 2019 and played a couple of minor-league games in 2020 before debuting in 2021, but he also missed 2022 and most of 2023 due to injury.
Speaking of Lyle Lin, he has since been released by the A’s Double-A affiliate Midland Rockhounds, played the remainder of the season in the Atlantic League’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, and participated in two NPB training camps.