Ngayaw Ake: The new CPBL Home Run King

TAINAN, Taiwan -- In his first game wearing the Weichuan Dragons uniform after signing a one-year deal with the club to extend his 18-year playing career during the off season, Ngayaw Ake (Lin, Chih-Sheng) wasted no time to drive a pitch from Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions reliever Ching-Ming Wang into the deep left bleacher for his 290th career home run in Sunday's play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). The landmark long ball cemented Ngayaw Ake’s place in Taiwan baseball history as the sole Home Run King.

Forty-year-old
Ngayaw Ake, a native of Taitung and drafted firstoverall in the service-training draft in 2003, made his professional debut in2004 with the La New Bears(now Rakuten Monkeys). He quickly showed his power atthe plate as he collected 27 home runs in his first two seasons with the Bears and ranked fourth amongall players during that time.

During his 12 seasons (’04-’15) with the
Bears/Monkeys, Ngayaw Ake led the league with home runs three times (’09,’10 and ’12) and his 207 homeruns still ranks first in La New/Lamigofranchise history. He was also named Taiwan Series MVP twice (’12 and ’15).

In 2016 Ngayaw Ake became the first playerin CPBL history to successfully switch teams by filing FreeAgency, signing a three-year blockbuster contract with CTBC Brothers to becomethe highest-ever paid player in CPBL history. In his first season with theBrothers, he hit career-high 36 home runs while winning the All-Star Homerun Derbyfor the third time in his career (’09, ’15 and ’16).

During 2020 and 2021 Ngayaw Ake did not seemuch playing time due toinjuries. However, in the final game of 2021 season, inwhich he appeared in a career-low 33 games, he belted a grand-slam to tie the CPBL all-timehomerun record at 289 held by former Dragons/Bulls/Lions player and currentDragons coach Taishan Chang and became the co-leader of the CPBLcareer home run record.

Ngayaw Ake stated during the pre-gamecoverage regarding his next home run that would put him ahead of Chang andbecame the all-time leader: “As long as I can get it done, I don’t reallyanticipate myself to do it at any certain game.”

Chang, now hitting coach of the Dragons, offered his congratulations to NgayawAke and encouraged himto keep pushing the record forward: “Let’s getthat 300th now!”

The Dragons opened their 2022 season byvisiting the Lions in Tainan. Lions starter Tzu-Chien Shih was hit hard by theDragons offense and gave up nine runs (six earned) in two 2/3innings. Dragons starter Jake Brigham went five innings while giving up two runs (one earned) to bag his first win of the season as the Dragons defeatedthe Lions 11-3. The win also ended the Dragons’ losing streak against the Lions inTainan Stadium as they were winless in Tainan in 2021.

With both Brothers and Lions completed their opening weekend, the Fubon Guardians and Rakuten Monkeys will also play their first games at home during the opening week. The Dragons won’t return home for their opener until the 15th of April after spending their first two weeks on the road.

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