title: Wang Wei (baseball)
text: # Wang Wei (baseball)
  
  Wang Wei (simplified Chinese: 王伟; traditional Chinese: 王偉; pinyin: Wáng Wěi; born 25 December 1978 in Beijing, China) is a baseball catcher from the People's Republic of China. He holds the distinction of having hit the first home run ever in the World Baseball Classic, when China played eventual champion Japan in the first round. On June 20, 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball.
  
  While playing for China in the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wang injured his knee in a collision with USA player Matt LaPorta. He had to have surgery on it and will miss into the 2009 season.
  
  