Chiang Shao Ching, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher who was the ace of the staff for Chinese Taipei at the WBSC Premier12 2019, is working his way onto the Detroit Tigers Major League 30-man roster. Chiang was acquired this winter via free agency by the Tigers after spending seven seasons in the Cleveland Indians organization.
Ching appeared in 124 Minor League games, 118 as a starter, for Cleveland, including 39 (37 as a starter) at the AAA level.
Chiang impressed manager Ron Gardenhire with a 98 mph fastball during the Summer Camp, after sitting out most of Spring Training because of back problems.
Before participating in the Premier12, he represented Chinese Taipei internationally at the Asian Games 2014 and at the World Baseball Classic 2017.
Chiang started two games at the II WBSC Premier12. He went six innings in the opener against Puerto Rico and earned the win. He left after 5.2 innings against Mexico in the opening game of the super round (pictured above) and suffered the loss. He allowed a combined six hits and three earned runs and struck out a total of 13 hitters, walking three.
Another former international baseball star is back into MLB business. Yasiel Puig agreed to terms, pending a physical, with the Atlanta Braves. Puig led Cuba to a bronze medal in the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2008 in Edmonton, Canada. He made the All-World Team as the center-fielder.
Puig, born in 1990 in Cienfuegos, signed his first professional contract in 2012 and made his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. He earned a spot in the All-Star Game of the 2014 season. He split the 2019 season between the Cincinnati Reds (100 games) and the Cleveland Indians (49).
