Manager Hao-Ju Tseng, who led Chinese Taipei to a historic world championship at the WBSC Premier12, is currently focused on preparations for the World Baseball Classic and training with the national team at the National Sports Training Center. Despite his busy schedule, he has not forgotten a wish shared by young baseball players in Hsinchu County.

During a recent交流 session with youth baseball teams from Hsinchu County, the players told Tseng that they hoped to visit a movie theater to watch HERO! HITO!, a documentary chronicling Chinese Taipei’s journey to the Premier12 title.

Determined to keep his promise to the children, Tseng personally covered the cost of the event and asked the Taiwan Baseball Development Association to help organize the outing. A total of 160 young players from five elementary school baseball teams—Wufeng Elementary School, Guanxi Elementary School, Datong Elementary School, Zhongshan Elementary School, and Shangguan Elementary School—were invited to a movie theater in Zhubei to watch the documentary together.

“I hope this documentary does more than move and inspire them,” Tseng said. “As they go through life, they will inevitably encounter setbacks and failures. I hope they will always have the courage to take on challenges and continue becoming better versions of themselves.”

The five participating schools—Zhongshan, Datong, and Shangguan Elementary Schools in Zhudong Township, Guanxi Elementary School in Guanxi Township, and Wufeng Elementary School in Wufeng Township—are all located in areas without a local movie theater. For many of the children, this made the trip especially meaningful and exciting.

To ensure that the young players could enjoy the outing safely and comfortably, Tseng asked the Taiwan Baseball Development Association to arrange chartered buses, travel insurance, and meal boxes for the participants. The Association also prepared popcorn and drinks and coordinated with the theater to reserve two private screening sessions, allowing the players to enjoy the film with their teammates in a relaxed atmosphere and create lasting memories together.

After the screening, one of the coaches reflected on the experience:

“Seeing the Chinese Taipei players proudly put on the national team jersey and compete for Taiwan reminded me that, regardless of the outcome, they are already heroes to us. Every player begins with a love for the game, but choosing the path of baseball also means learning to face setbacks and failure along the way. Those experiences are an essential part of growth.

“Through the documentary, I could see the focus and determination in the players’ eyes. I also came to better understand the message Manager Tseng wanted to convey: let go of the pressure of winning and losing, believe in yourself, give everything you have on the field, and truly enjoy every game.”

One young player, who received a Taiwan Baseball Development Association scholarship funded by Tseng last year, also shared his thoughts:

“I was really moved when I saw Chinese Taipei finally win the championship. The journey to becoming champions was incredibly difficult, and it made me believe even more that if you are willing to work hard and keep going, one day you may have the opportunity to show the world what you can do.”

Another child happily shared that it had been a long time since he had last been to a movie theater.

“Thank you, Manager Tseng, for remembering us and inviting us to see the movie. Being able to watch HERO! HITO! with my teammates—and having popcorn and a meal together—made this a really unforgettable experience.”

The Taiwan Baseball Development Association sincerely thanks Manager Hao-Ju Tseng for turning the children’s wish into reality through his generosity and action. We are also grateful to the principals, teachers, and coaching staff of all five schools for their support and assistance in making this special day possible.

For these young players, the experience offered more than a glimpse of the glory of becoming champions. It also allowed them to feel the encouragement and warmth of the man they affectionately call “Coach Totoro.”