World Baseball Classic live updates: Schedule, groups, scores and ...

Coaching staff: They are managed by Lin Yueh-Ping, once a star closer for the Uni-President Lions in the CPBL, where he helped lead them to six league titles as a player and coach, including in his first year as manager in 2020. He’s also been a fixture of their national team for decades. Ex-Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang serves as bullpen coach.

Player to watch: Yu Chang. The do-it-all infielder, who signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox early in spring training, profiles as above-average defensively, especially at second base. And Chang, 27, is at least reliable at all four spots, even if he’s not a monster hitter.

Previous standout international performances: Winners of the 2019 Asian Baseball Championship.

How they got here: They were ranked fourth in the world in 2017 but fell flat in the WBC, going 0-3 in their pool as Israel and Netherlands advanced instead. This year, the team qualified automatically as a host country. And, like Chang, the rest of this year’s roster is similarly spotted with potential, with current and ex-MLB prospects. Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng, 24, is a Giants prospect who pitched in the title game of the 2019 Asian Baseball Championship as Chinese Taipei toppled Japan. Shortstop Cheng Tsung-che, 21, is a Pirates prospect. And keep an eye on Lin Li, nicknamed the “Nuclear Warhead,” a utilityman slugger who was, by far, the best hitter in the CPBL last season in leading the Rakuten Monkeys to a second consecutive title.