BASEBALL/Cheng Tsung-che called up by Pittsburgh Pirates

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) has been called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates from their Triple-A affiliate, becoming the first Taiwanese player to reach the majors in 2025.

The Pirates announced the promotion in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, saying, "We have recalled [infielder] Tsung-Che Cheng from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed INF Jared Triolo on the 10-day injured list."

"I [was] really excited when I got the call. It's kind of like a dream come true," said Cheng, who is better known within the Pirates system as "Z," in an introductory video released by the franchise.

His jersey number is 71.

It will be the first trip to the major leagues for the Pirates' No. 17 prospect, nearly five years after he made his professional debut in the Rookie Leagues in July 2021. Cheng is now the 18th Taiwanese player ever to play in the majors.

The most recent Taiwanese player to make it to the majors was Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威), who had a four-game stint with the San Francisco Giants before being demoted. He is currently with the Giants' Triple-A team.

The Pirates' decision may have seemed somewhat premature, considering that Cheng has played only 11 games at the Triple-A level -- six at the end of the 2024 season and five so far in 2025.

Still, the move was not entirely unexpected, given the team's lack of depth in the infield and Cheng's standout performance in spring training.

In addition to losing second baseman Nick Gonzales and utility player Jared Triolo, who were sidelined with a fractured left ankle and a lumbar spine strain, respectively, Nick Yorke, the team's No. 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is also on the injured list.

Cheng, 23, bats left and throws right. In 17 at-bats over 14 spring training games, he tallied six hits, including one homer and two doubles, and hit .353.

His ability to play multiple infield positions effectively also set him apart from other potential call-up candidates.

As noted by Alex Stumpf, who featured Cheng's promotion in a recent piece, Cheng's 65-grade fielding tool is the highest among the Pirates' Top 30 prospects.

Scouting grades range from 20 to 80, with 60 considered above average and 70-80 indicating well-above-average tools.

"I think we saw the full scope of it in spring training," Pirates manager Derek Shelton was quoted by Stumpf as saying.

"Regardless if he played second or short, he can really defend. He's played some third, a little bit in the minor leagues. With losing Triolo, we needed someone who could play short as the backup. We felt he fit us the best," Shelton said.

For now, Cheng is expected to begin in a bench role. He did not appear in Monday's 8-4 win at home over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Following the series opener, the Pirates (4-7) sit fourth in the National League Central division.