Baseball in China, Part 2: Dodgers, Padres Settle Into Beijing

A Baseball field in Beijing?

After the Play Ball clinic, I headed back to the stadium to watch the Dodgers and Padres work out and take batting practice. I told my cab driver to go to Wukesong, also the name of the area where the ballpark is.

“Where exactly?” he asked. I told him to take me to the baseball field. He stared at me blankly and asked, “There's a baseball field here?” 

Though he was a very nice guy, Sun Chun Sheng, the cab driver, was not very well informed about the goings on of this weekend.

I told him that two American baseball teams were in town to play a couple games, and that the Chinese national team was there too, and then I asked if he liked baseball.

“I don't get it,” he said. “Some of us like it, and some of us don't really.”

Profound.  

Back at Wukesong, the Dodgers were taking batting practice with a hip-hop soundtrack on the loudspeakers, while the Chinese National Team watched patiently in seats along the first base line. After telling me that they weren't allowed to do interviews with reporters, I got one of the Chinese Olympians to give me a bit of insight into baseball in China.

Though he wouldn't give me his full name, Guo is a pitcher who has played baseball since he was “young.” According to Guo, baseball is much bigger than it was when he grew up, and he sees a bright future for the kids who are learning the sport in China now.

I asked him about Wang Wei, the star catcher drafted by the Mariners, who also hit the first ever World Baseball Classic home run.

“Oh, you mean the Yao Ming of our sport?” I think he was tired of hearing about the search for baseball's Yao. “He is on our team, but he is in America now.” 

There are no Asians on your team

At the Padres press conference, we were graced with the presences of Trevor Hoffman, Bud Black, and CEO Sandy Alderson.

Though grateful for the Chinese Baseball Association’s welcome, Hoffman was unable to tell us what it was like for the Chinese National Team to meet the Padres, since they hadn't yet been introduced.  He did, however, seem confident that the country will be able to produce MLB talent down the road.

“The opportunity for us to play ball here is a big first step,” he said. “For the kids to start at a young age would really help.” 

One Chinese reporter noted the fact that the Dodgers brought Chan Ho Park from South Korea and Kuo Hong-Chih from Taiwan to China for this event, but that the Padres didn't bring any Asians.

“Do you think the Beijing audience will support the Dodgers more this weekend since they have Asians and you do not?” he asked bluntly.

Bud Black explained that there are no guys from “the Far East” in the Padres system, then conceded  that Beijing probably would, indeed, cheer for the Dodgers.  

On a more serious note, Alderson made a good point about the development of baseball in China. He explained that both the Dodgers and the Padres have guys from all over the world on their rosters—and many of those foreign players come from countries in which baseball is less widespread than it is in China. So, by his account, it might not be long before we start seeing Chinese players show up on MLB rosters.

Maybe it will be a while before someone like Yao makes a splash in the big leagues, but Alderson is probably right.

After the press conference, I kicked back in the bleachers and watched the Padres take batting practice. Of all the things I thought I’d see in China, this wasn’t one of them.

I relished the moment—and I'll be back tomorrow for game one of the China Series.

Check out Part I of Jeff's Baseball in China series 

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