Uni-President Lions stage 613-drone light show for Chen Yongji's retirement.

The President Chiba Uni-President 7-ELEVEn Lions issued a press release today announcing that the retirement ceremony for former pitcher Chen Yung-chi will be held on the 19th and 20th of this month. Following the games, the club has specially planned a large-scale drone performance to pay tribute to the star player who left a profound mark on international competitions. Inspired by the jersey numbers of Chen Yung-chi and Hu Chin-lung, the performance will deploy 613 drones to paint brilliant patterns in the night sky, symbolizing the starting point and highlights of his professional baseball career.

Since joining the Uni-President Lions in 2005, Chen Yung-chi has made more than 300 appearances, with accumulated wins and earned run averages ranking among the best in franchise history. He has been selected for the Chinese Taipei national team multiple times to participate in major tournaments such as the Asian Baseball Championship and the World Baseball Classic. As a switch-hitter and left-handed pitcher with versatile skills, his pitching repertoire is unpredictable, particularly his combination of sliders and changeups, which kept opponents off balance. For his final two games before retirement, the team has scheduled him as a starter and reliever, allowing fans to witness his pitching form once again as the highest tribute to his years of contribution.

The significance of "613" stems from Chen Yung-chi's debut on the international stage—June 13, 2006, when he first represented the Chinese Taipei team in a crucial match against Japan. On that day, his steady pitching performance helped the team secure the early advantage, establishing his core role in international competitions from then on. The club uses this date as the thematic code for the drone performance, serving as both a commemoration of his personal milestone and a symbol of Taiwan baseball's continuous breakthrough spirit on the international stage.

In recent years, drone light shows have become a popular element in major sporting events, capable of creating unpredictable visual effects in a short period of time to enhance the viewing experience. This time, 613 drones will be arranged into Chen Yung-chi's jersey numbers "31" and "13" as well as the Uni-President Lions team logo, flashing alternately in the night sky to form a dynamic stellar pattern, echoing his starlike radiance on the pitcher's mound. The technical team stated that to ensure safety and precision, all machines have undergone multiple rounds of simulation testing and will be synchronized with the rhythm of the live music to present a highly coordinated visual feast.

Fans and teammates have responded enthusiastically to this tribute. Many long-time supporters of Chen Yung-chi have left comments on social media praising the club's creativity and thoughtfulness while recalling his game-turning performances in clutch moments. The team's coaching staff also stated that Chen Yung-chi's professional attitude and competitive spirit will serve as a model for younger generations to emulate, hoping future rookies will inherit his resilience and precision. The drone show is not only a visual feast but also a transmission of emotion, allowing audiences present and afar to feel the warmth and heritage of baseball culture.

Chen Yung-chi's retirement ceremony and drone performance symbolize the conclusion of a glorious era and herald the departure of the Uni-President 7-ELEVEn Lions into a new generation. The team will continue to cultivate domestic pitchers in striving to achieve new heights in international competitions, while Chen Yung-chi's name and the lights of 613 will forever remain in the starry sky of Taiwan baseball, becoming an eternal totem inspiring those who follow.