CPBL 2025 Season Opener Draws Record 40,000 Fans as Uni-Lions Dominate Brothers

Key Highlights from the Historic Season Opener

• A record-breaking 40,000 fans packed the Taipei Dome to watch the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions shut out the defending champions CTBC Brothers 8-0.
• This surpassed the previous record of 28,618 set in 2024 at Taiwan’s first indoor baseball stadium.
• Uni-Lions pitcher Brock Dykxhoorn was named MVP, striking out five and allowing just three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
• The game’s turning point came in the sixth inning, where the Uni-Lions’ offense exploded for multiple runs.
• CTBC Brothers starter José de Paula struggled, giving up four earned runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
• The Uni-Lions capped their dominant performance with a solo home run by Lin An-ko in the seventh inning.
• The 2025 CPBL season will feature 360 regular-season games, with the Brothers hosting the Fubon Guardians next.

Deep Dive: Record-Breaking CPBL 2025 Season Opener

Taipei Dome Welcomes Historic 40,000 Fans

The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) kicked off its 2025 season in spectacular fashion, setting a new attendance record of 40,000 fans at Taipei Dome.

This shattered the previous record of 28,618, set in 2024 when the Wei Chuan Dragons hosted the Rakuten Monkeys. It also matched the peak attendance of the 2024 Taiwan Series and the farewell games of Brothers legend Chou Szu-chi.

Before the game, CPBL commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) addressed the crowd, acknowledging the league’s growth:

“The CPBL has overcome many difficulties to come this far, step by step. I want to thank all the franchises, coaches, players, and most importantly, the fans. Thank you, everyone. You’ve all come back.”

Uni-Lions Dominate in Taiwan Series Rematch

The 2025 season opener was a rematch of the 2024 Taiwan Series, and the Uni-Lions took revenge in emphatic fashion with an 8-0 shutout over the CTBC Brothers.

MVP Performance by Brock Dykxhoorn

Uni-Lions pitcher Brock Dykxhoorn delivered a stellar performance, striking out five batters and allowing only three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

His dominant start set the tone for the Uni-Lions’ commanding victory.

Offensive Explosion in the Sixth Inning

The turning point of the game came in the sixth inning:

• With a narrow 1-0 lead, the Uni-Lions loaded the bases after three consecutive singles.
• Pan Chieh-kai (潘傑楷) hit a bloop single, scoring two runs and knocking Brothers’ starter José de Paula out of the game.
• A costly error by five-time Golden Glove shortstop Chiang Kun-yu (江坤宇) allowed another run to score.
• Pinch hitter Hu Chin-lung (胡金龍) sealed the inning with a bases-clearing double, extending the Uni-Lions’ lead to 7-0.

Final Blow: Lin An-ko’s Solo Home Run

In the seventh inning, Uni-Lions designated hitter Lin An-ko (林安可) launched a solo homer to deep right field, bringing the final score to 8-0.

CTBC Brothers Struggle in Season Opener

The CTBC Brothers had a disastrous night, unable to find an answer to the Uni-Lions’ relentless offense.

• Starting pitcher José de Paula took the loss, giving up four earned runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings, while striking out two batters.
• The defense faltered, including a crucial error by Chiang Kun-yu that fueled the Uni-Lions’ sixth-inning surge.
• The Brothers’ offense struggled, managing only three hits in the entire game.

Upcoming CPBL Games & 2025 Season Outlook

The CPBL’s 2025 regular season features 360 games, with exciting matchups lined up for Sunday:

• CTBC Brothers vs. Fubon Guardians at Taipei Dome
• Uni-Lions vs. TSG Hawks in Tainan
• Rakuten Monkeys vs. Wei Chuan Dragons in Taoyuan

With a record-breaking opening game, the 2025 CPBL season is set to be one of the most exciting in league history.

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