Pirates A to Z: Tsung-Che Cheng rose through prospect rankings, thanks to speed, defense

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Tsung Che-Cheng

Positions: Second base, shortstop, third base

Throws: Right

Age: 22

Height: 5-foot-7

Weight: 173 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: None.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Signed as an international free agent for a $380,000 bonus out of Taiwan in July 2019.

This past season: Cheng already made a name for himself in international play before his rise through the Pirates’ prospect lists, playing in the Under-18 Baseball World Cup in 2019.

After shining in the Florida Complex League, where he batted .312 with a .449 on-base percentage and 16 steals in 38 games in 2021, it was what Cheng did in the offseason that prompted Pirates farm director John Baker to call him “a fascinating one.”

In 2021, Cheng played shortstop in the Colombian winter league for Caimanes de Barranquilla, run by Pirates Dominican Summer League manager Jose Mosquera. Then Cheng helped Colombia win the Caribbean series for the first time, playing against the likes of Marcell Azuna and Robinson Cano.

“He plays on this field straight out of the complex against major league All-Stars,” Baker said, “and holds his own.”

Cheng earned the Omar Moreno Award as the best baserunner in the organization last year with 38 stolen bases at Low-A Bradenton. Cheng ranked second in the Florida State League with a .376 OBP and third with 25 doubles and 38 extra-base hits.

Tsung-Che Cheng is making an early impact for Chinese Taipei with 4 hits and 2 RBI in two games.#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/9GvgvWetGP

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) March 10, 2023

Tsung-Che Cheng with the safety squeeze to bring home another run for Chinese Taipei!

????: FS2 and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/8ckpfweSsD

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 11, 2023

Cheng spent last offseason playing for Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican winter league, then went 5 for 15 (.333) as leadoff hitter for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic.

“He’s such an unassuming kid,” Baker told TribLive this past summer. “He’s small but all he’s done is perform for us. He’s somebody who’s really exciting. I think he’s a really big prospect that overcomes size with baseball acumen and ability. He’s a remarkable kid and a remarkable player. He played all winter and all year to get himself into this position.”

Cheng was dominant at hitter-friendly High-A Greensboro, slashing .308/.406/.575 with 12 doubles and as many triples (nine) as home runs to become a South Atlantic League All-Star.

Try getting a ball past Tsung-Che Cheng.
We dare you. pic.twitter.com/9Rm6nlLCMh

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) May 27, 2023

The Pirates promoted Cheng, along with left-handed pitcher Anthony Solometo, to Double-A Altoona on June 22. Cheng’s numbers dipped a bit, as he hit .251 with a .656 OPS and committed six errors in 66 games after having only three in 57 games at Greensboro.

Cheng remained disruptive on the basepaths by recording 26 stolen bases for the season — 13 at each level — and showing the type of defensive range and versatility the Pirates love.

Cheng rocketed through their Baseball America system rankings, going from No. 25 in the preseason to No. 13 by midseason.

“Cheng’s game is built around contact, which shows up in person and in batted-ball data,” Baseball America wrote. “Scouts report a player with excellent bat control, and he finished the year with respective overall and zone miss rates of 21.6% and 15.8%. He doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard, but he has just enough thump to shoot balls from gap to gap and let his plus speed play on the basepaths.”

Two home runs today for Tsung-Che Cheng! pic.twitter.com/FuusXI1cb3

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 3, 2023

The future: Baseball America now ranks Cheng the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect, and the team affirmed his stock by protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft by adding Cheng and right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft to the 40-man roster Tuesday.

Cheng still has work to do at the plate in the minors, but much of his middle infield competition was promoted to the majors last summer so he should have a chance to shine next year.

Ashcraft, who was Cheng’s roommate in Altoona, praised his teammate for overcoming the language barrier while changing teams mid-summer.

“He’s an awesome guy and an unbelievable player,” Ashcraft said. “He’s super consistent. He’s one of those guys, you’re sitting in the dugout watching games, you look up and he’s on an 18-game hitting streak. He’s not the flashiest guy in the world, but he’s going to make every play. He’s gonna do everything the right way. He’s gonna respect the game. Guys like that can have a lot of success. Through that, to see where he’s at now, it pays off.”