Shock! "Eat Korean candy" slip of the tongue controversy: Taiwan national team player embroiled in another scandal after beer found in locker

*This content was translated by AI.

Taiwan national team infielder Li Haowei (23, Detroit Tigers), who was previously engulfed in a "disparaging Korea" controversy due to a slip of the tongue made during a conversation with Korean-American teammate Jamai Jones (29) during spring training, has once again become the subject of public criticism after a beer can was discovered in his locker immediately following his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut.

Li Haowei made his big league debut on the 18th (Korea time) in an away game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. While he earned the honor of becoming the 19th Taiwanese-born player in MLB history, his performance was disappointing.

Starting as the eighth hitter and third baseman, Li Haowei remained hitless in three at-bats. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied 0-0 and two outs, he committed a critical throwing error that pushed his team into crisis. It was a harsh introduction to the high barriers of the big leagues on both offense and defense.

After the debut game, Li Haowei unexpectedly became the center of controversy in an unlikely location. According to multiple media outlets, including Taiwan's United Daily News (UDN), a can of beer was found on top of Li Haowei's locker, which served as the backdrop for an interview with another Detroit Tigers infield prospect, Kevin McGonigle (22), on the 20th.

This scene went viral in the United States and Taiwan. A baseball fan posted a mocking comment on social media, saying, "So he's drinking in the locker room now, I get it," and the controversy spread rapidly. Although some in the local area defended him, arguing, "He's a 23-year-old adult; what's wrong with having a beer after his debut game?", it became yet another target for criticism from fans who had already questioned Li Haowei's performance and attitude.

The reason Li Haowei finds himself in controversy even over a minor action lies in his reckless past behavior. He became a topic of discussion after it was revealed that during spring training prior to this season, he told his Korean-American Detroit teammate Jamai Jones, "Eat Korean candy (F*** Korea)." While it appeared to be a friendly joke between close friends ahead of the WBC (World Baseball Classic) matchup, it unintentionally sparked controversy.

At the time, Li Haowei apologized, stating it was a joke stemming from cultural differences. However, his withdrawal from the 2026 WBC due to injury and his poor performance in his MLB debut have compounded the situation. After failing to get a hit in his debut on the 18th, he started again in the the 20th game against Boston but went hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts, hanging his head in defeat. He has posted a dismal record of 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in two MLB games.

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*This content was translated by AI.