Baseball fans have been tuned into the recent World Baseball Classic Qualifiers (WBCQ), where teams from Taiwan, Nicaragua, South Africa, and Spain battled for a coveted spot in the 2026 WBC. While local fans brought the energy, they were joined by some international supporters as well.
Among them was Japanese baseball influencer B-Morel, who became a fan-favorite in Taiwan during the Premier12 tournament. This time, he flew to the Taipei Dome to cheer on Team Taiwan, offering a unique perspective as a Japanese fan and earning heartfelt thanks from Taiwanese netizens for his passionate support.
Influencer B-Morel is famous for traveling to stadiums around the world to document and participate in different cheering cultures. In recent years, he's become a frequent visitor to Taiwan, filming his experiences at local baseball games. He's fallen in love with the island's high-energy fan culture, often seen dancing along with the cheer squads. His connection runs so deep that he was even invited by the TSG Hawks to participate in a Taiwan-Japan friendship game event this year.
During the qualifiers, he uploaded videos from two key matchups: the preliminary game against South Africa and the do-or-die final against Spain on February 25. B-Morel explained that despite his unwavering support for Samurai Japan in the main WBC tournament, his frequent visits have given him a deep affection for Taiwan, and he genuinely hoped to see the team succeed.
With a roster featuring many new faces compared to the last Premier12 squad, B-Morel had to learn a whole new set of cheers, and his videos captured him shouting and chanting right in the heart of the cheering section.
For the critical elimination game against Spain, he showed up with the Taiwanese flag painted on his face. However, he also expressed some genuine confusion: "I'm actually a bit curious why Taiwan even has to participate in these qualifiers," he remarked, noting the nation's strong baseball reputation. "If Taiwan can't make it to the 2026 WBC main tournament, as someone who loves this place, it would feel really lonely."
(For context, Taiwan landed in the qualifiers after finishing last in its group during the 2023 WBC. Despite all five teams finishing with a 2-2 record, Taiwan was eliminated based on the tie-breaker of runs allowed per defensive inning.)
He observed that the Premier12 championship victory had created a massive wave of excitement for baseball in Taiwan. "But if they can't participate in the WBC, that momentum might fade," he worried. "That wouldn't be good for Taiwanese baseball." His hope was that his cheers could help push them toward qualification.
Throughout the games, he was immersed in the passionate atmosphere, expressing his wish that Taiwan's baseball fever would continue forever.
After Taiwan clinched its WBC ticket with a hard-fought win over Spain, B-Morel shared his relief and joy. He noted that the other qualifying nations were formidable, a sign that baseball is improving globally, and admitted he was surprised Taiwan had to fight so hard to advance. "I'm so happy for Taiwan," he concluded. "Because a WBC without Taiwan would be lonely. Now I can cheer for you guys again in 2026!"
▼ Video from the preliminary game against South Africa
▼ Video from the do-or-die game against Spain
The comment sections of his videos were flooded with messages from Taiwanese fans thanking him for his dedication. Many were touched that he would travel to Taiwan specifically to support the team in a tournament that didn't even involve Japan, seeing it as a true testament to his love for the country.
Team Taiwan's journey through the WBCQ was a nail-biter to the very end, showcasing the players' resilience. With qualification secured, fans are now gearing up for the start of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League season, ready to carry this wave of baseball passion forward.