China National Baseball League
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 |
| Ceased | n.t.l. 2023 |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Country | China |
| Continent | Asia |
| Most titles | Beijing Tigers (1) |
| Level on pyramid | Professional |
The China National Baseball League (Chinese: 中国棒球职业联赛, CNBL) was a short-lived professional baseball league in Mainland China which represented the highest level of professional baseball in the nation between the 2019 and 2023 seasons. Created as a replacement/rebranding of the China Baseball League (CBL); the CNBL only ever played their inaugural 2019 season as the following seasons were cancelled due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China. Upon the lifting of restrictions in 2023; the CBL was revived, replacing the CNBL.
History
Following the folding of its predecessor, China Baseball League (CBL), after the 2018 season, the CNBL was launched to represent the highest level of professional baseball in the nation for the 2019 season; with its inaugural game being played on 15 August.[1][2] The season's league was ultimately won by the Beijing Tigers.[3] After this inaugural season, the CNBL was forced to take a three year pause due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, only being allowed to practice and hold scrimmages.[1] As a result, many players from the CNBL only played their first professional game again in the 2023 World Baseball Classic,[4] where China lost all four consecutive matches in their pool before being eliminated.[3][5]
Even though the CNBL was reportedly ready to relaunch for the 2023 season,[1] it is both unclear and unlikely the CNBL still existed by the time the 2023 World Baseball Classic took place. A restructuring of professional baseball in the nation took place in 2021,[5] and during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Chinese players were represented by the parenting Chinese Baseball Association because a professional system was reportedly not in operation.[6] Regardless, the 2023 season was ultimately played by a revived CBL, the league the CNBL had once replaced.[7] As of 2026, another professional league named the Chinese Professional Baseball (CPB), started the same year, now co-exists with the CBL as the main professional league in the nation.[8]
Teams
The league launched in 2019 with the following four teams.[2]
| Team | City | Province | Stadium | Capacity | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Tigers | Beijing | – | Lucheng Field | 5,000 | 2019 |
| Guangdong Leopards | Zhongshan | Guangdong | Zhongshan Sports Center Stadium | 12,000 | 2019 |
| Jiangsu Huge Horses | Wuxi | Jiangsu | Wuxi Baseball Stadium | 3,000 | 2019 |
| Tianjin Lions | Tianjin | – | Tian Ti Dodger Stadium | 2,000 | 2019 |
References
- ^ a b c Harrigan, Thomas (5 March 2023). "History of baseball in China". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ a b "中职棒联赛下月开赛 新赛季4家俱乐部获批准入" [The CPBL (Chinese Professional Baseball League) will start next month; four clubs have been approved to join the new season.]. Sina Sports (in Chinese (China)). 12 July 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ a b Xuan, Liang (14 March 2023). "年轻的中国棒球人重返国际赛场" [Young Chinese baseball players return to the international arena]. China Youth Daily. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ Morgenstern, Leo (4 March 2023). "WBC Roster Preview: Team China Looks To Pull Off an Upset". Just Baseball. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
many of China's players haven't played professionally in years after the COVID-19 pandemic (among other problems) shut down the China National Baseball League.
- ^ a b Huanyu, Fu (16 March 2023). "中国棒球启示录：在沉默中奉献热情，期盼向上的明天" [A Lesson from Chinese Baseball: Dedicating Passion in Silence, Hoping for a Better Tomorrow]. Rednet (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "中国棒球，顽强成长" [Chinese baseball, growing tenaciously]. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese (China)). People's Daily Online. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2026. [Data provided by the China Baseball Association shows that the foundation for professional baseball in China is currently weak, [...] and a professional system has not yet been established.]
- ^ "2023年中国棒球联赛无锡站开赛" [The 2023 China Baseball League Wuxi Station kicks off.]. Wuxi Daily (in Chinese (China)). 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ 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.]