During a tense World Baseball Classic matchup between Taiwan and the Netherlands, Yu Chang delivered the biggest swing of the night. With the score tied 1-1 in the second inning and the bases loaded, the Netherlands pitcher tried to work the edges with a series of sliders. The first one was called a strike. The next two missed just off the plate. With the count in a dangerous spot, the pitcher turned to a fastball to avoid walking in a run. Chang was ready. He jumped all over it and launched a grand slam to left-center. Taiwan took a 5-1 lead and the stadium erupted.
Chang didn’t hold back on the celebration. He turned to the Netherlands dugout, shouted “let’s go,” tossed in a tongue-wink combo, then threw in a salute. His teammates met him at the dugout with more salutes, head bumps, and fist punches that turned borderline painful. One guy caught a shot to the wrist. Another came in too hot with a head bump. Chang stayed locked in, joking and jawing the whole time. The energy in the stadium matched the moment, with cheerleaders dancing and fans losing it in the stands.
Despite the fireworks, Taiwan didn’t advance. The pool ended in a chaotic tie, and tiebreakers based on run differential sent them home. Their pitching let them down, but their offense had moments like this one. The grand slam stood out not just for the result but for how it unfolded pitch by pitch and the show that followed. Chang had the plan, and when the fastball came over the plate, he ended the at-bat with authority.