![CTBC Brothers veteran Chou Szu-chi. CNA file photo](https://imgcdn.cna.com.tw/Eng/WebEngPhotos/800/2024/20240311/1024x789_713742448513.jpg)
Taipei, March 11 (CNA) Chou Szu-chi (周思齊), a former MVP of Taiwan's professional baseball league, will hang up his cleats after the end of the 2024 season with the CTBC Brothers, the franchise said in a statement Monday.
The Brothers will hold a press conference to formally announce Chou's retirement on Friday at CTBC Financial Park in Taipei.
A third-round draft pick by the now-disbanded Macoto Cobras, Chou made his debut in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in 2005 and stayed with the franchise for three years before it was taken over by the dmedia T-Rex in 2008.
Chou started playing for the Brother Elephants in the 2009 season and grew into a franchise icon by staying with the team for the rest of his career, including when CTBC took over the team from the Brother Hotel in late 2013.
Sporting a .307 average over 1,738 regular-season games, Chou has been selected to the CPBL All-Star Game 13 times, from 2008 to 2019 and in 2023.
Now 42 years old, Chou is the oldest active player in the league, and he is among several players who have announced their retirements during the offseason.
Chou's teammate Kuan Ta-yuan (官大元), whom he played with from 2011 to 2023, announced his retirement on Nov. 27, 2023.
On Sunday, the Brothers announced they will hold a retirement ceremony for the 40-year-old pitcher in their game at the Taipei Dome on April 4.
Similarly, the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions confirmed the retirement of Kao Kuo-ching (高國慶) last December and said the 45-year-old first baseman will transition to a coaching position this year.
Another Uni-Lions legend, Pan Wei-lun (潘威倫), will call it a career after completing his 22nd season in the pros.
He is the CPBL's all-time winningest pitcher with 148 wins, and is expected to start in his retirement game with the TSG Hawks on Sept. 28 at the Taipei Dome.
- Yu Chang joins Fubon Guardians on CPBL record deal over NT$90 millionFormer major league player Yu Chang (張育成) officially joined the Fubon Guardians on Thursday morning on a multi-year deal worth more than NT$90 million (US$2.77 million), setting a new record for Taiwan's professional baseball league.07/11/2024 09:16 PM
- Taiwanese youth league baseball winners reach World Series finals in U.S.Taiwan Little League team Guishan Elementary School won the Asia-Pacific regional tournament of the Little League World Series on Wednesday and will now represent the region at the Little League World Series final in the United States in August.07/03/2024 05:55 PM
- Yu Chang named CPBL first pick by Fubon GuardiansFormer Major Leaguer Yu Chang (張育成) is set to play in Taiwan's professional baseball league in the second half of the 2024 season after being named by Fubon Guardians as its overall first pick in the mid-season draft on Friday.06/28/2024 09:55 PM
- Sports
Tai, Sun carry flag for Team Taiwan at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
07/27/2024 08:23 AM - Society
Schools, offices in some towns, districts to close Saturday
07/26/2024 10:51 PM - Society
Magnitude 4.6 earthquake shakes Pingtung
07/26/2024 10:30 PM - Politics
Mayor, lawmaker convicted of corruption face different outcomes
07/26/2024 10:02 PM - Society
Typhoon Gaemi causes 8 deaths, 866 injuries as of Friday night
07/26/2024 09:58 PM