BASEBALL/Stuart Fairchild of Cincinnati Reds open to representing Taiwan in 2026 WBC

Phoenix, Arizona, March 7 (CNA) Team Taiwan has a shot at upgrading its roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) as Cincinnati Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild said he has not ruled out the possibility of representing his mother's home country next year.

"I think that's something I'd like to do. I don't want to give a confirmed yes at this point [because] a lot can happen between now and then," Fairchild, whose mother is from Taiwan, told CNA in an interview at Goodyear Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday.

Emphasizing that he would need to "stay healthy" and "continue performing," Fairchild said, "If everything lines up the way -- I hope it does -- it would be awesome to play for Taiwan."

Fairchild, who batted .215 to record eight homers and 30 RBI in 2024, ended the last season prematurely due to a left thumb sprain that required surgery. He said he has since fully recovered.

Although he has not made a commitment yet, Fairchild's attitude toward the opportunity is much more positive than it was ahead of the 2023 WBC.

At that time, both Fairchild and Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll -- who was also born to a Taiwanese mother -- declined Team Taiwan's recruitment through their agents, as they were focused on the upcoming MLB season.

Fairchild referred to Carroll as a friend with whom he had trained during the 2020 and 2021 offseasons, but noted that they have not done so since, as the Diamondbacks All-Star moved to Arizona.

"I haven't really talked with him yet about [representing Taiwan in 2026]," Fairchild said, adding that "it'd be a lot of fun" if Carroll were interested in joining Team Taiwan.

As part of its efforts to promote baseball globally, the WBC Inc. has significantly relaxed eligibility rules for players representing a country.

However, Taiwan failed to recruit any international players with connections to the country for the 2023 WBC and the 2025 WBC qualifiers. In late February, the team was nearly eliminated on home turf by Team Spain, which had only one player born in the country.

On Friday, Fairchild confirmed that he met with Team Taiwan manager Tseng Hao-jiu (曾豪駒) last year in Pittsburgh, Ppennsylvania, and has remained in contact with Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), which picks Team Taiwan.

Despite not watching Team Taiwan's WBCQ games, Fairchild said he was aware of Taiwanese fans' passion for the sport and noted that he had seen the team qualify for the 2026 WBC. He said he looks forward to seeing how the games progress in Taiwan.

Soon to turn 29, Fairchild said his mother moved to the United States when she was 12. He noted that they have talked about taking a trip to Taiwan but have not done so yet, adding that the WBC could be a good opportunity.

The Taiwanese-American player acknowledged that his mother rarely speaks Mandarin and he knows little about Taiwanese culture, but he hopes to learn more. "I hope that people can embrace me and teach me about the culture a little bit," he said.

In response to the possibility of Fairchild playing for Taiwan, CPBL Secretary-General Yang Ching-lung (楊清瓏) told CNA on Saturday (Taiwan time) that the league will stay in touch with the player but stressed that the team's manager's opinion also matters.

After leading Team Taiwan in the 2024 WBSC Premier12 and the 2025 WBCQ, Tseng has expressed a desire to take a break, though the league still hopes he will continue in his role.

"Now it rests with Hao-jiu's response," Yang said.