*This content was translated by AI.
While collapsing miserably on the mound, he was seen laughing heartily in the dugout. Jung Ha-oh-jun (29), the "Taiwanese ace" of the CPBL's Chungxin Brothers, faced fierce criticism for his inappropriate behavior immediately after a disastrous outing of ⅓ inning with 9 runs allowed. As the controversy escalated, the club ultimately bowed its head in apology.
On the 14th, the Chungxin Brothers issued an official statement, saying, "We deeply apologize to fans for the situation that occurred in the dugout during yesterday's (13th) game," and added, "Player Jung Ha-oh-jun has also acknowledged that his behavior was immature and is reflecting on it."
The incident began with a game against the Fubon Guardians held on the 13th at the Zhouzhi Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan. Jung Ha-oh-jun, who started the game, was hammered by the Fubon lineup from the top of the first inning, leaving the mound early with a shocking stat line of ⅓ inning, 6 hits allowed, and 9 runs allowed (all earned). It was the worst pitching performance of his career, surrendering 9 runs while recording just one out.
However, the real problem arose after his removal. According to multiple local media outlets, including the Taiwan Times (LTN), footage captured on local broadcasts showed Jung Ha-oh-jun chatting happily with teammates and smiling in the dugout even as the team suffered a crushing 17-2 defeat, trailing by 15 runs. Fans immediately expressed anger at his apparent lack of responsibility as an ace.
Criticism also came from a senior figure in the baseball world. Li Du-shen, a former NPB player and currently an Asia regional scout for the SoftBank Hawks, publicly criticized the behavior on his SNS, writing, "This attitude is not respectful to fans or to teammates who are fighting until the end on the field."
As criticism intensified, the club stepped in with an explanation. Club officials stated, "Jung Ha-oh-jun is a player with an extremely strong competitive spirit and felt significant self-blame for his poor performance," but added, "However, concerned that his depressed mood might lower the morale of the entire team during the ongoing game, he intentionally tried to communicate with teammates in a brighter manner." The gist was that it was a "manufactured cheerfulness for the sake of team atmosphere."
The club further stated, "Regardless of the player's intentions, we deeply recognize that his manner of expression on the field as a professional athlete was not prudent," and promised to prevent recurrence by saying, "We will further strengthen mental management and behavioral guidelines for the team to demonstrate responsible behavior that meets fans' expectations."
Jung Ha-oh-jun, who entered the Taiwanese stage after passing through the minor league system under the Los Angeles Dodgers, previously drew disappointment in March when he started against Japan in the WBC (World Baseball Classic), surrendering a bases-loaded home run to Shohei Ohtani (32). With this latest "laughter controversy," his standing as an ace has been shaken, and even the support of Taiwanese fans appears to be cooling.
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*This content was translated by AI.
