PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have recently promoted one of their promising talents, giving them the chance to realize their long-held aspiration of reaching Major League Baseball.
The team summoned infielder Tsung-Che Cheng from their Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis, following the placement of infielder Jared Triolo on the 10-day Injured List due to a lumbar spine strain.
Ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the Pirates’ organization by MLB Pipeline, Cheng’s path to the big leagues has been a lengthy one.
Originally from Pingtung County, Taiwan, Cheng joined the Pirates as an international free agent out of high school on July 27, 2019, securing a $380,000 signing bonus.
His professional debut was delayed when the 2020 minor league season was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but he resumed his career in 2021 with the Florida Complex League (FCL) Pirates.
Cheng steadily climbed the ranks, spending most of the previous season with the Double-A Altoona Curve.
Although he only appeared in 11 games for Indianapolis—split between late 2024 and the start of this season—the Pirates turned to Cheng, a member of their 40-man roster, to fill the infield vacancy.
Ahead of the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 7, Cheng took part in batting practice and worked at shortstop, marking a pinnacle moment in his career.
“It’s really special, and I’m proud of myself,” Cheng shared via his interpreter, Haagen Tan. “I never thought I’d get to take batting practice in such an amazing stadium.”
The day of his call-up was already memorable for Cheng, as he had been celebrating his wife Irene’s birthday and even baked her a chocolate cake from scratch. The news from Indianapolis manager Chris Truby, however, turned out to be an even sweeter surprise.
“Yeah, her birthday was yesterday,” Cheng noted. “So it’s like the perfect birthday gift for her.”
Tsung-Che Cheng feels most at ease playing shortstop, though he’s also comfortable at second base—a position Pirates bench coach Don Kelly envisions him filling while he’s in the majors.
His call-up provides support for the Pirates, who are currently without infielder Jared Triolo and second baseman Nick Gonzales, the latter sidelined by a non-displaced fracture in his left ankle.
The team has also been missing first baseman Spencer Horwitz, out with a right wrist injury since before Spring Training, and Nick Yorke, who’s been hampered by a right shoulder issue.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton commended Cheng’s defensive skills, highlighting his potential as a long-term backup at shortstop.
“He’s so dynamic defensively,” Shelton remarked. “We got a good look at that during Spring Training. Whether he’s at second or short, he can really play the position. He’s even seen some time at third in the minors. With Triolo out, we needed a reliable backup at short, and we think he’s the right fit.”
While Cheng is enthusiastic about what lies ahead, his immediate focus is on the present, determined to demonstrate he can hold his own in the majors.
“For now, I just want to enjoy baseball, have fun playing, and keep getting better every single day,” Cheng said.
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