Chien-Cheng Kuo

Chien-Cheng Kuo (郭建成)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 176 lb.

• High School Chung Hua High School

• Born July 7, 1965 in Kaohsiung City Taiwan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Chien-Cheng Kuo (known as Kensei Kaku in Japan) pitched in three different Asian countries and spent time on Taiwan's national team. He made history in both positive and negative ways during his career.

Amateur Career

Kuo played for Taiwan in the 1983 World Junior Championship. In the 1984 Amateur World Series, he was 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA, allowing 5 extra-base hits in 7 1/3 IP. He next pitched for Taiwan in the 1987 Asian Championship and 1987 Intercontinental Cup. Kuo appeared for Taiwan in the 1988 Olympics. In the 1988 Baseball World Cup, he served as Taiwan's ace, going 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) in 24 2/3 IP. He finished 4th in ERA behind Charles Nagy, Fulvio Valle and Kang-chul Lee.

Japan

Having completed his service with the Taiwan Air Force, Kuo signed with the Japanese Yakult Swallows. In 1989, he was named Fireman of the Year in the minor Eastern League. Promoted to Yakult's ichi-gun team in 1990, Kaku went 0-4 with a 4.95 ERA, only striking out 20 in 60 innings. In 1991, the right-hander allowed 5 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings for Yakult, his last year in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Taiwan

Returning to his homeland, Kuo signed with the China Times Eagles and went 9-17 with 3 saves and a 3.21 ERA in 1992. In 1993, he was 7-6 with 23 saves and a 2.92 ERA. The next season, he had a 10-8 record with 17 saves but his ERA ballooned up to 4.07. In 1995, Kuo's line read 3-5 with 13 saves and a 5.49 ERA. That year, he made history of the first president of Taiwan's player union. In 1997, he was arrested for fixing games and was sent to jail, one of many players banned from the Chinese Professional Baseball League for throwing games.

China

Kuo was out of prison by 2002 and signed with the Tianjin Lions, the first player from Chinese Taipei to play in the China Baseball League. He was a player-coach for the Lions. He also coached for the Chinese national team in the 2002 Intercontinental Cup.

Pitches

Kuo threw a fastball, forkball, sinker and changeup. He peaked at 89 mph (143 km/h).

Sources

• Japan Baseball Daily by Gary Garland
• Defunct IBAF site
• Baseball Wiki (in Chinese)