Every August in Williamsport, the Little League Baseball® World Series brings together kids from across the globe to chase the same dream. For the 2025 Asia-Pacific Region team out of Chinese Taipei, the heartbeat of their dugout does not just come from their players; it comes from the lifelong bond between their manager, Min-Nam Lai, and the team interpreter, Phillip Chang. Their relationship shows how baseball, at its core, is about more than the game itself.
For Chang, baseball started as a way to connect with his son. Growing up in Palo Alto, California, Chang was drawn to the game for its mix of skill, structure, and joy. When his son began playing, Chang reflected on one of the most significant aspects of his time as an athlete – having a mentor who believed in him even when he could not believe in himself. Chang was determined to provide that same mentorship for his son and decided to send him to Chinese Taipei’s most respected and well-known coaches, Min-Nam Lai.
“It is a totally different style of coaching from Palo Alto and Chinese Taipei,” said Chang. “The difference from the way baseball is taught is a lot more relaxed in the United States. In the U.S., we train maybe three to four hours a week. In Chinese Taipei, it is four to five hours a day. It could be after school, on the weekends, really anytime. It’s a different culture, but these kids learn discipline, respect, and the right way to be a teammate. Lai instilled these lessons within my son, and he has carried them with him not just on the field, but within his everyday life.”
This commitment to the game opened the door to something far bigger than what Chang’s son would learn on the baseball diamond. It created a dynamic of trust, inspiration, and friendship that neither Chang nor Lai predicted. Chang was galvanized by what his son learned under Lai.
After his son’s experience, Chang offered his help to Lai, preaching that if he ever needed help in the future, he would always be there for him. As the two spoke, they agreed that if Lai were to make it to Williamsport for the LLBWS, Chang would be his team’s interpreter.
In 2015, Lai’s team represented Chinese Taipei in the LLBWS, but fell short of the ultimate goal of bringing his country a championship. After reflecting on the players’ experience, he could not help but realize that the players were so focused on winning baseball games that they were missing out on the other opportunities away from the field, including connecting with other players from different countries.
In that moment, Lai made a promise to himself that the next time he made it to Williamsport, he would bring an interpreter who was committed to enhancing not only the experience on the field, but off it, too. An individual who could help the players understand the significance of what it means to be able to learn about different cultures, build relationships in the International Grove where the players and coaches all stay, and appreciate all the hard work they have put in. So, 16 years after they first met, the promise that Lai and Chang made with one another came to fruition.
“I tried so hard to make this dream happen the last 10 years, and I am so honored to know a man like Chang,” said Lai. “Whenever there is a bat or rule change, Chang has been right there interpreting for me so I could bring the knowledge I learn from him to the players. He has done a great job teaching me the culture around baseball in the United States. I have learned so much from him, and we have so much respect for one another.”
For Lai, baseball has always been about shaping people first and players second. His coaching style emphasizes discipline, humility, and respect, all three values that, in his eyes, transcend what the box score shows. With Chang by his side, those lessons are able to stretch even further, beyond culture and language. Together, they create an environment where young athletes can thrive not only as competitors but as individuals, too.
“It’s important, not only to have a good interpreter who understands all the rules but also understands the culture,” said Chang. “When we are in the Grove, in the Grand Slam Parade downtown, and talking with Major League Baseball players, I explain to the players what they need to look for and what they should take away from those moments. It is about making sure they don’t just play in Williamsport; they truly experience it.”
In Williamsport, where every team is chasing the same dream, the partnership between Manager Lai and Interpreter Chang has become a cornerstone for this Asia-Pacific Region program. Their relationship led them to a place where the two of them thought was an improbable aspiration just 10 years ago, winning the 2025 Little League Baseball World Series.
Manager Min Nam Lai and Interpreter Phillip Chang left Williamsport with a championship, but their bond is built on a shared belief that the international tournament played on youth sport’s biggest stage is about more than just winning. It is about character, culture, and connections.