CPBL Star Lin Che-hsuan Officially Announces Retirement

Lin Che-Hsuan, a veteran outfielder and former Major League Baseball (MLB) player, has retired from professional baseball following the conclusion of the 2025 Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) season. The announcement, made on September 11, 2025, concludes an 11-year career in Taiwan’s top professional league.

The Fubon Guardians, Lin’s current team, held an official retirement press conference on September 15, 2025, to allow the player to address fans and the media. The event was broadcast live via the team’s official Twitch streaming channel.

A Historic International Career

Lin holds a distinguished place in Taiwanese sports history as the eighth player from the island to reach Major League Baseball. During his time in the United States, he showcased his talents across three different franchises: the Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros, and the Texas Rangers. He made his professional MLB debut on April 14, 2012, with the Boston Red Sox.

Throughout his development in the United States, Lin was recognized for his defensive capabilities. He was previously rated by Baseball America as having the best outfield arm in the Boston minor league system and was noted in the Red Sox Top 10 Prospect Scouting Report for his strike-zone discipline and defensive skill.

Impact in the CPBL

Lin’s journey in the CPBL began in 2015 when the EDA Rhinos selected him as the first overall draft pick. His arrival had an immediate impact; he led the franchise to a championship and was named the Taiwan Series Most Valuable Player in 2016.

Since 2017, Lin has served as the captain of the Fubon Guardians. Over the course of 11 seasons and 799 games, he compiled the following career statistics:

• Batting average: .280
• Hits: 771
• Home runs: 64
• Runs batted in: 342
• Stolen bases: 109

Despite his consistent excellence, the latter part of his career was hampered by physical setbacks. Reports indicate that Lin was plagued by injuries over his final two seasons, appearing in only 55 games in 2024 and just eight games during the 2025 season.

Farewell and Legacy

During his retirement ceremonies, Lin reflected on his professional journey, choosing the word 拚 (striving/fighting) to describe the essence of his career. He expressed a desire to be remembered as someone who never wanted to lose.

The retirement events included a farewell catch in the center-outfield area, an area colloquially referred to as the shrimp pond. Lin also used the occasion to look toward the future of the Fubon Guardians, specifically naming Liu Cheng-yu as the player to take over his responsibilities in the outfield.

In a lighter moment during the proceedings, Lin joked about the Fubon Guardians winning a championship and issuing stocks to his juniors, specifically mentioning the ETF 006208. He also expressed gratitude toward the influencer known as Stock Cancer (股癌).

Lin’s departure marks the end of a pivotal era for Taiwan’s baseball landscape, removing one of the island’s most accomplished international players from the active roster.