Tsung-Che Cheng

In this Chinese name, the family name is Cheng.

Tsung-Che Cheng (Chinese: 鄭宗哲; pinyin: Zhèng Zōngzhé; born July 26, 2001) is a Taiwanese professional baseball infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He signed with the Pirates as an international free agent in 2019 and made his MLB debut in 2025.

Tsung-Che Cheng
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 71
Shortstop / Second baseman
Born: (2001-07-26) July 26, 2001 (age 23) Pingtung County, Taiwan
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 9, 2025, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics (through April 9, 2025)
Batting average	.000
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	0
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (2025–present)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  Chinese Taipei U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019 Gijang Team Asian Games 2022 Hangzhou Team

Professional career

Cheng, a native of Pingtung County, Taiwan, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Pu-Men High School as an international free agent on July 2, 2019, for a signing bonus of $380,000.^[1][2] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3]

Cheng made his professional debut with the Florida Complex League Pirates in 2021,^[4] and played second base, third base, and shortstop throughout the season.^[5] After the 2021 minor league season ended, Cheng played winter ball with the Caimanes de Barranquilla, winning the 2022 Caribbean Series.^[6]

Cheng spent the 2022 Minor League Baseball season with the Bradenton Marauders, playing shortstop more frequently.^[5] He appeared in 104 games, hit for a .270 batting average, .376 on-base percentage, and a .794 on-base plus slugging percentage, while scoring 79 runs. Of his 38 extra-base hits, seven were triples. He led the Florida State League in triples and runs scored, finished second in on-base percentage, fourth in batting average, and fifth in on-base plus slugging percentage. Cheng's 33 stolen bases in 39 attempts led all minor leaguers within the Pirates organization.^[5][7] At the end of the 2022 minor league season, Cheng was assigned to the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.^[8]

At the start of the 2023 regular season, Cheng ranked thirtieth on MLB Pipeline's list of top Pirates prospects^[9] and was assigned to the Greensboro Grasshoppers.^[10][11] On June 23, he played his first game at the Double–A level, with the Altoona Curve.^[12] During the season, Cheng set a career high in triples and was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the twenty-second best Pirates prospect.^[13]

On November 14, 2023, the Pirates added Cheng to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.^[14][15] Prior to the start of the 2024 season, he was ranked the seventeenth-best Pirates prospect by MLB Pipeline.^[16] Cheng was optioned to Double–A Altoona to begin the year.^[17] In 126 appearances for the Curve, he slashed .218/.320/.341 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. On September 17, 2024, the Pirates promoted Cheng to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.^[18]

Cheng was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2025 season.^[19] On April 7, 2025, Cheng was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Jared Triolo.^[20][21] Two days later, Cheng made his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals,^[22][23] and became the 18th Taiwanese player in Major League Baseball history.^[24]

International career

Shortly after signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cheng competed in the 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cup.^[25] Cheng was named to the Taiwanese national team roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.^[26] Over the course of the tournament, he batted for a .333 (5-for-15) batting average as a leadoff hitter^[27] and drove in three runs.^[28][29][30] Later that year, Cheng appeared in the postponed 2022 Asian Games, competing in five baseball games, batting .318/.455/.348 in 22 at-bats,^[31] and winning a silver medal with Taiwan. Cheng was named to Taiwan's preliminary roster for the World Baseball Classic 2025 Qualifiers,^[32] but later withdrew.^[33]

Personal life

Cheng is known by the nickname "Z" because the pinyin of the three Chinese characters in his name, Zhèng Zōng Zhé, all start with the letter Z. However, the actual romanization of his name uses the Wade–Giles system.^[34][35] He is married to Irene.^[20][36]