Taiwan Series: Wizard receives death threats; Brothers manager says: No need to pay attention to online trolls

Knight. (Photo by Reporter Chen Chih-qu)

[Reporter Kung Nai-hsi/Taipei report] CTBC Brothers foreign pitcher Knight served as the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the Taiwan Series yesterday. He delivered a quality start of 3 runs allowed over 7 innings but took the loss. After the game, rumors spread that his wife and children were targets of vicious online attacks, prompting the CTBC ball club to take a firm stance. The club stated that they immediately worked together with the agency to fully assist the player, formally filed a report with the police station, and would take all necessary legal action with zero tolerance.

CTBC manager Hirano Keiichi stated regarding social media matters that he had already talked about it during the mid-season, "The club has also issued some announcements, and I think that's it." However, Hirano also said, "Instead of caring too much about malicious online comments, I think a better approach is to focus our attention on the fans who are working very hard to cheer for us throughout the stadium."

Hirano believes that there is no need to pay attention to these few people who slander online; we might as well keep focusing on the fans who, regardless of whether we are doing well or badly, always strive to cheer for us, "Putting our focus on them is more meaningful."

Elephants fans packed the outfield of the Taipei Dome yesterday. Hirano Keiichi expressed that although it was an away game, so many fans still entered the venue and gave the team such enthusiastic applause, "I am truly very grateful, but not being able to present a victory as a gift to the fans also makes me feel apologetic and frustrated."