It's been just over a month since Taiwan clinched the WBSC Premier12 baseball championship by beating hosts Japan on their own soil. For star pitcher Lin Yu-min, the title is more than just a victory, it's a step closer to his dream of reaching the Major Leagues.
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00:00Victory for Taiwan at the WBSC Premier Tour Baseball Tournament, as the country's men's
00:10team claimed top spot for the first time in an international competition.
00:16And for pitcher Ling Yuming, it's all still a surreal experience.
00:19I want to cry, but I can't, because I feel like I haven't been able to react yet.
00:26It's a dream for us, so I think it's a bit of a pity.
00:2921-year-old Ling is one of the top pitchers from Taiwan.
00:33He's expected to start the 2025 season with the Reno Aces, a Triple-A minor league team
00:39in the U.S. state of Nevada.
00:42Ling is known for his diverse pitching repertoire that has attracted attention in Taiwan and
00:47now internationally, especially after his performances in the Premier 12 Championship.
00:54Throughout the tournament, Ling remained positive and optimistic for the team, despite fans
00:59doubting Team Taiwan's chances.
01:01The roster had been thinned out, with several star players unavailable due to injury and
01:06other issues.
01:07When I first saw the lineup, I was really happy, because I think we can use this competition
01:18to gain experience and make these players more experienced.
01:24The team beat South Korea in their opening game and eventually advanced from the group
01:28stage at their expense.
01:31Taiwan played Japan three times during the tournament, losing the first two encounters
01:36before stunning the hosts in the gold medal game.
01:40Throughout all of this, Ling took it upon himself to find ways to bring the team together.
01:44Baseball is a team game, not a single-player game.
01:49I believe in my own style, and I believe in my teammates.
01:56And now, with his Premier 12 Championship title, Ling says the tournament has taught
02:01him a valuable lesson.
02:26After winning the Premier 12 Championship, I don't think it's just a dream, it's
02:31a dream come true.
02:32I think it's something that can be achieved.
02:37With the dream now showing promise of becoming reality, Ling wants to make his mark on the
02:41sport.
02:42A player will never imitate another very strong player, because the way you do it
02:49is no longer yourself.
02:51If today, people say, oh, Xiuhei, I want to do the same thing as him, wear the same
02:58brand, and do the same thing as him, then I will become the next Xiuhei.
03:03Then why don't you become the next you, become a new superstar, and beat Xiuhei?
03:09Winning the Premier 12 Tournament is no easy feat.
03:12And for all the players, it's an experience to savour and remember forever.
03:17And it won't be long before Ling Yuming is back on the mound, striking out the opposition
03:23and holding his future in his fastball-flinging hands.