Terpene

Kai-Wei Teng
Teng with the Minnesota Twins in 2018
San Francisco Giants – No. 70
Pitcher
Born: (1998-12-01) December 1, 1998 (age 25)
Taichung, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 31, 2024, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
(through March 31, 2024)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average9.00
Strikeouts4
Teams

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.

Early life and education[edit]

Teng 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[edit]

Minnesota Twins[edit]

On 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+23 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[edit]

On 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+23 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+23 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+13 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+13 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[edit]

Teng 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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "More than a translator: Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Kai-Wei Teng has mentor, friend in 'Jay'". The Gazette. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "Kai-Wei Teng - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Pantini, Andrew (July 15, 2019). "Kai-Wei Teng named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Velle, La (August 1, 2019). "Twins pick up Giants reliever Sam Dyson at trade deadline". Startribune.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  6. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Giants pitching prospect Kai-Wei Teng suspended for 10 games". NBC Sports Bay Area. June 2, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Dodson, Joe (June 10, 2022). "Taiwanese pitcher feeling at home with Flying Squirrels". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Kai-Wei Teng Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "Giants' Kai-Wei Teng: Promoted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  11. ^ "SF Giants promote Taiwanese pitching prospect to Triple-A Sacramento". si.com. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  12. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (November 16, 2023). "Keep an eye on these prospects added to 40-man rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Webeck, Evan (February 14, 2024). "SF Giants spring training injury updates: 2 young pitchers sidelined before camp begins". Mercury News. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  15. ^ "Monday's Transactions". Associated Press. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024. Republished by the San Diego Union-Tribune
  16. ^ "Taiwan's Teng Kai-wei gets call from the Giants". Taipei Times. March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Guardado, Maria (March 31, 2024). "Giants eager to see Snell boost rotation". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Taiwan beats Japan 5-4 in baseball in Asian Baseball Championship finals". Taiwan News. October 21, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "Former MLB infielder Yu Chang listed on Taiwan WBC team roster". Focustaiwan.tw. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

External links[edit]

Leave a Reply