台灣的棒球在亞洲具備一定的競爭力，但相較於日本和韓國，近年來在球員進入美國大聯盟並穩定發展的成果明顯落後。這現象背後有多重因素，可以從基層發展、訓練環境、棒球文化與產業規模等面向分析，同時也提出改善方向。

基層培育與選才制度:台灣的棒球基層培育雖然歷史悠久，但仍以勝負為主導，特別是學生棒球階段，過度追求成績導致選手容易過早耗損身體。與此相對，日本注重青少年技術基本功與心理素質的全面培育，韓國則逐漸強化對青少年投手肩肘保護的意識。台灣的選才模式也相對單一，過度依賴身材條件明顯的選手，而忽視技術細膩度、心理素質或多元角色潛力的發掘。

訓練環境與醫療資源:相較於日本和韓國擁有完善的訓練設施與科學化的訓練規劃，台灣在訓練資源上的投入相對有限。例如，在投手肩肘保護和恢復管理上，台灣的醫療資源和訓練科學化進度仍需大幅提升，這導致不少選手在青少年階段即過度使用肩肘，影響長期發展。此外，台灣職棒球隊的訓練環境與大聯盟水平仍有差距，這也讓年輕球員即便進入職棒系統後，也未必能獲得國際化水準的成長機會。

棒球文化與心理素質:日本和韓國的棒球文化對選手心理素質的培養有著深遠影響。在日本，尊重棒球、磨練耐性和專注力被視為選手基本素養，而韓國球員展現的拼搏精神和韌性也備受關注。相對而言，台灣選手普遍在心理強度與穩定性方面略顯不足，尤其是面對壓力時的抗壓能力和應變能力，這可能與基層對心理素質的忽視，以及訓練過程過於結果導向有關。

Baseball in Taiwan holds a certain level of competitiveness in Asia, but in recent years, it has noticeably lagged behind Japan and South Korea in terms of producing players who can enter Major League Baseball (MLB) and achieve sustained success. This phenomenon stems from multiple factors, which can be analyzed from the perspectives of grassroots development, training environments, baseball culture, and industry scale. Additionally, potential improvements are suggested below.

Grassroots Development and Talent Selection Systems

Taiwan's grassroots baseball development has a long history, but it is heavily focused on winning, particularly at the student level. This excessive emphasis on results often leads to players overexerting themselves at an early stage. In contrast, Japan prioritizes the holistic development of young players, emphasizing technical fundamentals and mental resilience. South Korea, meanwhile, has increasingly raised awareness of shoulder and elbow protection for young pitchers.
Taiwan’s talent selection process is also relatively narrow, relying heavily on players with prominent physical attributes while overlooking technical finesse, psychological strength, and the potential for versatile roles.

Training Environment and Medical Resources

Compared to Japan and South Korea, which boast advanced training facilities and scientific training programs, Taiwan’s investment in training resources is relatively limited. For example, in areas such as shoulder and elbow protection and recovery management for pitchers, Taiwan still lags significantly in medical resources and the application of scientific methods. This shortfall often leads to young players overusing their arms, which hampers long-term development. Furthermore, the training environments of Taiwan’s professional baseball teams are still far from MLB standards. As a result, even players who enter the professional system may not receive the opportunities to grow to an internationally competitive level.

Baseball Culture and Psychological Resilience

The baseball cultures in Japan and South Korea profoundly influence players’ mental development. In Japan, respect for baseball, patience, and focus are considered essential qualities for players, while South Korean players are known for their grit and resilience. By contrast, Taiwanese players tend to show weaker psychological strength and stability, especially in handling pressure and adapting to challenges. This could be attributed to a lack of emphasis on psychological training at the grassroots level and an overly results-oriented approach during the training process.

Suggestions for Improvement

Holistic Youth Development: Adopt a more balanced approach to youth training by focusing on both physical and mental aspects. Encourage young players to develop versatility and resilience rather than merely chasing short-term victories.

Enhancing Training Resources: Invest in advanced training facilities, introduce scientific methods, and improve medical support to prevent injuries and promote long-term player development.

Broadening Talent Evaluation: Develop a more comprehensive talent selection system that values technical skill, mental toughness, and diverse abilities over solely physical attributes.

Cultivating Baseball Culture: Promote a deeper appreciation of the sport and instill values such as perseverance, adaptability, and respect for the game at all levels.

By addressing these issues, Taiwan can build a more robust baseball system and enhance its competitiveness on the international stage.

照片:DALLE3