Kai-Wei Teng (Chinese: 鄧愷威; Wade–Giles: Teng4 Kai3-wei1; born December 1, 1998) is a Taiwanese professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Kai-Wei Teng | |||||||||||||||
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San Francisco Giants – No. 70 | |||||||||||||||
Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
Born: Taichung, Taiwan | December 1, 1998|||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
March 31, 2024, for the San Francisco Giants | |||||||||||||||
MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |||||||||||||||
Win–loss record | 0–0 | ||||||||||||||
Earned run average | 9.82 | ||||||||||||||
Strikeouts | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Teams | |||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Early life and education
editTeng attended Shi Yuan Senior High School in Taichung before transferring to Kao-Yuan Vocational High School of Technology & Commerce in Kaohsiung. He enrolled at the National Taiwan Sport University.[1]
Career
editMinnesota Twins
editOn October 20, 2017, the Minnesota Twins signed Teng for a $500,000 signing bonus.[2] He made his professional debut with the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Twins in 2018, making 10 appearances (9 starts) and posting a 3.59 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 42+2⁄3 innings pitched.[3]
He began the 2019 season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single–A Midwest League, and was named the league's pitcher of the week for the week ending July 14.[4] In 9 games for Cedar Rapids, Teng logged a 4–0 record and 1.60 ERA.
San Francisco Giants
editOn July 31, 2019, the Twins traded Teng, Jaylin Davis, and Prelander Berroa to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Sam Dyson.[5] He made five starts for the Single–A Augusta GreenJackets, recording a 1.55 ERA with 39 strikeouts across 39+2⁄3 innings of work. Teng did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
On June 2, 2021, while pitching for the High–A Eugene Emeralds, he was suspended for 10 games after umpires found a foreign substance in his glove.[7] In 21 starts for Eugene, Teng recorded a 4.33 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 95+2⁄3 innings of work.[8] Teng spent the 2022 season with the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels, making 28 starts and registering a 6–12 record and 5.22 ERA with a career–high 169 strikeouts in 136+1⁄3 innings pitched.[9]
Teng began the 2023 season back with Double–A Richmond, starting 12 games and posting a 4.75 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 47+1⁄3 innings of work.[10] On June 18, 2023, he was promoted to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats.[11] In 17 games (16 starts) for Sacramento, Teng logged a 6–5 record and 4.22 ERA with 96 strikeouts across 76 innings pitched.
On November 14, 2023, the Giants added Teng to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[12][13] He spent some time in major league spring training,[14] and was optioned to Triple–A Sacramento to begin the 2024 season.[15] On March 29, 2024, Teng was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[16][17] Teng made his major league debut in relief of Daulton Jefferies, pitching three innings while yielding four hits and three runs.[18][19]
International career
editTeng played for the Taiwanese national team (Chinese Taipei) in the 2019 Asian Baseball Championship, pitching in the gold medal game against Japan, which Taiwan won.[20] He is included on their roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[21]
References
edit- ^ Luo, Chih-peng (December 22, 2017). "MLB》追隨胡智為腳步挑戰大聯盟 鄧愷威夢想成真". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ "More than a translator: Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Kai-Wei Teng has mentor, friend in 'Jay'". The Gazette. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ "Kai-Wei Teng - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Pantini, Andrew (July 15, 2019). "Kai-Wei Teng named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Velle, La (August 1, 2019). "Twins pick up Giants reliever Sam Dyson at trade deadline". Startribune.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Giants pitching prospect Kai-Wei Teng suspended for 10 games". NBC Sports Bay Area. June 2, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ Dodson, Joe (June 10, 2022). "Taiwanese pitcher feeling at home with Flying Squirrels". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ "Kai-Wei Teng Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Giants' Kai-Wei Teng: Promoted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ "SF Giants promote Taiwanese pitching prospect to Triple-A Sacramento". si.com. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (November 16, 2023). "Keep an eye on these prospects added to 40-man rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Brisbee, Grant (November 14, 2023). "Giants 40-man roster: Why Kai-Wei Teng, Trevor McDonald and Erik Miller were added". The Athletic. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Webeck, Evan (February 14, 2024). "SF Giants spring training injury updates: 2 young pitchers sidelined before camp begins". Mercury News. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Monday's Transactions". Associated Press. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024. Republished by the San Diego Union-Tribune
- ^ "Taiwan's Teng Kai-wei gets call from the Giants". Taipei Times. March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Lin, Hung-han; Ko, Lin (March 30, 2024). "BASEBALL/Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei called up by MLB's Giants". Central News Agency. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Guardado, Maria (March 31, 2024). "Giants eager to see Snell boost rotation". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Lin, Hans; Chao, Yen-hsiang (April 1, 2024). "BASEBALL/Teng Kai-wei receives gift from idol Yu Darvish after MLB debut". Central News Agency. Retrieved April 3, 2024. Republished as: "Taiwanese pitcher Teng makes debut". Taipei Times. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Taiwan beats Japan 5-4 in baseball in Asian Baseball Championship finals". Taiwan News. October 21, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ "Former MLB infielder Yu Chang listed on Taiwan WBC team roster". Focustaiwan.tw. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
External links
edit- Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)