Chinese Professional Baseball
Current season, competition or edition: 2026 Chinese Professional Baseball season | |
 | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2025 |
| First season | 2026 |
| Organizing body | CoolBang Sports |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | China |
| Streaming partners | |
| Website | www |
Chinese Professional Baseball (CPB; Chinese: 中国棒球城市联赛; pinyin: Zhōngguó Bàngqiú Chéngshì Liánsài) is the top-tier professional baseball league in China. The league was formed in 2025 and began play on 1 January 2026, co-existing with the state-run China Baseball League as the main professional league in the nation.[1] It is organized by Shanghai-based CoolBang Sports.[2][3]
History
[edit]The formation of the league was announced on 28 September 2025. The CPB's first draft was held on 26 November 2025, during which the five founding teams selected 57 players from Greater China and overseas.[4] Prominent Taiwanese and international baseball figures were announced to have joined the league, including Lu Wen-sheng, Dae-sung Koo, and Ray Chang, who were selected as managers for the Fuzhou Sea Knights, Shanghai Dragons, and Shenzhen Bluesox respectively.[5]
The league held its first overseas scout tryouts in Miryang, South Korea in May 2026, with roughly ten players entering into contract negotiations with CPB teams.[6]
Two new teams were announced for the Summer League during the 2026 summer draft. The Shanghai Dragons moved to Beijing, becoming the Beijing Loongs. Shanghai's replacement team was announced to be the Shanghai Orcas under head coach Kim Yong-dal (Korean: 김용달; Hanja: 金龍達).[7]
Format
[edit]Inaugural season
[edit]The inaugural CPB season opened with the first game of the Spring League (立春联赛; Lìchūn Liánsài) on January 1, 2026. Four founding teams played a total of 30 regular-season games followed by a best-of-three championship series.[8] Spring League games were primarily played at Zhongshan Baseball Park in Nanshan, Shenzhen, with some games played at the Zhongshan International Baseball and Softball Center ("Baseball City") in Zhongshan.[9]
The Summer League (夏至联赛; Xiàzhì Liánsài) will be held in August and September 2026, during which Changsha Want Want Happy and the Shanghai Orcas will begin play, with the former Shanghai Dragons moving to Beijing.[7][10] The Xuhui West Bund Baseball Field in Shanghai will be added as a venue. The league will consist of 45 regular-season games, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs on September 21. A best-of-three championship series will begin on September 26.[7]
Later seasons
[edit]According to the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the 2027 CPB season will largely follow the format of the 2026 season. The league is anticipated to move to a home-and-away schedule for the 2028 season and will retain the Spring League as a preseason spring training series,[4][11] by which point the league hopes to have achieved "fully professional" state following more investment in player development.[5]
Teams
[edit]
| Team | Chinese name | Sponsor | Location | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Loongs | 北京正大龙 | CP Group | Beijing | 2026 |
| Changsha Want Want | 长沙旺旺 | Want Want Group | Changsha, Hunan | 2025 |
| Fuzhou Sea Knights | 福州海侠 | Han Yuan Investment | Fuzhou, Fujian | 2025 |
| Shanghai Orcas | 上海虎鲸 | none announced | Shanghai | 2025 |
| Shenzhen Bluesox | 深圳蓝袜 | Shenzhen Bluesox Culture & Tourism | Shenzhen, Guangdong | 2025 |
| Xiamen Dolphins | 厦门海豚 | Xiamen Sports Properties | Xiamen, Fujian | 2025 |
Culture
[edit]The league assembled the eight-member CPB Girls cheerleading squad, consisting of famous cheerleaders from Taiwan and others selected from a draft in December 2025.[4] The squad was later expanded to twelve members.[12]
The league debuted a theme song titled "Arrogance", written by Taiwanese singer-songwriter AJ Chang, during a live performance at a Spring League championship series game on 30 January 2026.[13] In addition, each team also has its own fight song.[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ Zixiang, Lin (5 November 2025). "CPB中國棒球聯賽是什麼？上海兄弟隊名惹議 「1規定」讓球迷氣炸" [What is the CPB China Baseball League? The controversial name of the Shanghai team sparks controversy; one regulation infuriates fans.]. NOWnews (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 3 February 2026. [In fact, the CPB is not the only baseball league currently operating in China. The CBL (formerly CNBL), China Baseball League, has existed since 2002 and has continued to develop. With the launch of the CPB, the two leagues are expected to coexist and operate independently.]
- ↑ "中國棒球城市聯賽 承辦者上海酷棒公司辦公室". Yahoo! News (in Chinese). 7 November 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ↑ Scott, Mathew (6 February 2026). "A Private League Tests a New Pro Baseball Playbook in China". Sixth Tone. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Historical inaugural draft of Chinese Professional Baseball held in Shenzhen, Guangdong". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- 1 2 Pan, Jason (30 November 2025). "Chinese baseball league announces Taiwanese picks". Taipei Times. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Wang, Yang (27 May 2026). "中国棒球城市联赛韩国海选强援" [Chinese Professional Baseball holds tryouts in South Korea to recruit top talent]. Sohu (in Chinese). Beijing Daily. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Han, Qiong (6 July 2026). "中国棒球夏至联赛8月开打 西岸棒球场全新亮相" [CPB Summer League kicks off in August; Xihui Baseball Stadium makes its debut]. KNEWS (in Chinese). Retrieved 8 July 2026 – via Sina.
- ↑ "Shenzhen Bluesox claim historical victory on Chinese Professional Baseball opening night". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Zhou, Fangping (20 January 2026). "CPB立春联赛移师全运球场，精彩赛事点燃"棒球之城"". Yangcheng Evening News (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Zhang, Ziyi (28 May 2026). "2026中国棒球城市联赛夏至联赛8月启幕" [The 2026 Chinese Professional Baseball Summer League will kick off in August]. China News Service. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Zhou, Fangping (28 September 2025). "CPB中国棒球城市联赛成立，明年1月将在中山举行立春联赛". Yangcheng Evening News (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- 1 2 Shen, Tingting (1 February 2026). "中国棒球嘉年华开启，2026立春联赛热力开球". MSN (in Chinese). Yangcheng School. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ↑ "AJ张杰创作棒球联赛主题曲". Sina News. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
