Dragons’ John Gant named CPBL MVP

PAYING TRIBUTE: ‘She’s my biggest fan, and for her to come here on this ride with me, it means so much to me. She is the real MVP,’ John Gant said of his wife

US right-hander John Gant of the Wei Chuan Dragons on Monday won the Chinese Professional Baseball League’s (CPBL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Year award, adding the competition’s top individual honor to a championship-winning season.

Gant led Taiwan’s pro baseball league with a 1.49 ERA and 136 strikeouts and was selected as the pitcher on the Best Nine team, bringing his haul to four trophies at the CPBL’s annual awards ceremony at the Taipei Marriott Hotel.

His win marked the sixth time in seven seasons that a pitcher had won the MVP award, and the fifth time it had gone to a foreign national.

US right-hander John Gant of the Wei Chuan Dragons delivers a speech as he receives the CPBL Most Valuable Player of the Year award in Taipei on Monday.

Photo: CNA

“Man, what an honor,” Gant said in his acceptance speech, thanking God, the organization, his teammates and coaches.

He credited their support and championship season with helping him earn the award, before paying tribute to his wife.

“She’s my biggest fan, and for her to come here on this ride with me, it means so much to me. She is the real MVP,” he said.

Gant said that his wife had supported him through elbow injuries during his two years in Japan, a year without playing in 2024 and his subsequent return through the US minor leagues.

The other major awards announced on Monday went to Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions right-hander Chung Yun-hua, who was named Rookie of the Year, and Rakuten Monkeys right-hander Tseng Chia-hui, who won the Most Improved Player award.

Chung got his opportunity when he filled in for injured Lions closer Chen Yun-wen, and ended up as the league’s saves leader with 33, setting single-season records for a CPBL rookie and a Taiwanese Lions pitcher.

The 23-year-old posted a 2.66 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 50-2/3 innings in 52 appearances.

He became the second player to win both the saves title and Rookie of the Year award in the same season, following TSG Hawks pitcher Lin Shi-xiang, who accomplished the feat last year.

Receiving the rookie trophy from his grandmother, Chung recalled once wanting to quit baseball as a child, and thanked his family for helping him through injuries and setbacks.

“I’m glad I didn’t give up,” he said.

Tseng, a fourth-round draft pick in 2023, emerged as a regular starter this year after pitching just four scoreless innings in one CPBL appearance last season.

He made 22 starts this year, going 7-2 with a 2.69 ERA over 120.2 innings. He beat out Monkeys teammate Ma Chieh-sen and Fubon Guardians pitcher Li Tung-ming for the award.