Wei-Chung Wang

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.
Wei-Chung Wang
Wang pitching for the Oakland Athletics in 2019
Wei Chuan Dragons – No. 16
Pitcher
Born: (1992-04-25) 25 April 1992 (age 32)
Taitung County, Taiwan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: April 14, 2014, for the Milwaukee Brewers
KBO: March 24, 2018, for the NC Dinos
CPBL: March 14, 2021, for the Wei Chuan Dragons
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record3–0
Earned run average6.52
Strikeouts33
KBO statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record7–10
Earned run average4.26
Strikeouts108
CPBL statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record14-23
Earned run average3.38
Strikeouts265
Teams
Career highlights and awards
CPBL

Wei-Chung Wang (Chinese: 王維中, born 25 April 1992) is a Taiwanese professional baseball pitcher for the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates, and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.

Career

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Pittsburgh Pirates

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Wei-Chung Wang's signature

Wang signed as an international free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011. When the Pirates discovered that Wang required Tommy John surgery, they voided the contract, and signed Wang to a new contract.[1]

Milwaukee Brewers

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Wang pitching for the Brevard County Manatees in 2015

The Brewers selected Wang from the Pirates in the 2013 Rule 5 draft. Though a player is normally automatically ineligible for the Rule 5 draft in his first four professional seasons, Wang was eligible due to the voided contract.[1][2] Wang competed for a spot on the Brewers' 2014 Opening Day roster,[3] which he made.[4][5] Wang made his MLB debut on April 14, 2014 against the St. Louis Cardinals pitching a scoreless inning, allowing one hit.[6]

Wang in Taiwan, December 2015

During the 2015 season, Wang pitched for the Advanced-A Brevard County Manatees.[7] He was designated for assignment by the Brewers on June 16, 2015.[8][9] After three years in the minor leagues, the Brewers recalled Wang from Colorado Springs Sky Sox on July 30, 2017.[10] He was granted his release from the Milwaukee Brewers in order to pursue a playing opportunity in South Korea, and was released on January 26, 2018.[11]

NC Dinos

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Wang was the first Taiwanese baseball player to play in the South Korean KBO League. He signed a one-year contract for $700,000 with the NC Dinos of the KBO League. The contract was announced by the Dinos on January 26.[12] He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

Oakland Athletics

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On February 1, 2019, Wang signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics that included an invitation to spring training.[13] On May 25, his contract was selected and he was called up to the major leagues.[14][15] Wang became the first Taiwanese player in Athletics' franchise history three days later,[16] when he pitched two scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing only one hit.[17][18] On July 4, Wang earned his first MLB win, tossing 2.1 shutout innings in a 7–2 victory over the Minnesota Twins, during which he allowed one walk, no hits, and one strikeout.[19] However, Wang struggled to establish himself as a reliable option outside of mop-up duty, and was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on August 19, with a 3.33 ERA buoyed almost entirely by a microscopic 0.231 average against on balls put in play. On August 29, Wang was designated for assignment.[20][21]

Pittsburgh Pirates (second stint)

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On August 31, 2019, Wang was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.[22][23] He earned wins twice as a reliever. His MLB stats during the 2019 season was 3–0, with ERA 3.77 in 25 appearances. Wang was outrighted off the Pirates roster on November 2 and became a free agent two days later.[24]

Wei Chuan Dragons

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Wang was selected first overall by the Wei Chuan Dragons in the 2020 Chinese Professional Baseball League draft on July 20, 2020, and returned to his native Taiwan as the first left-handed pitcher to be chosen with the first pick in the CPBL draft.[25] In September 2020, Wang signed a 5-year, $2.08 million contract with the Dragons, the largest contract in Taiwanese professional baseball history.[26]

On March 14, 2021, Wang made his CPBL debut as the Dragons' Opening Day pitcher against the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions.

Personal life

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He is the younger brother of former Chicago Cubs minor league player Wang Yao-lin.[27] He is a member of the Amis people.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Brink, Bill (December 12, 2013). "Brewers select Pirates' Wei-Chung Wang in Rule 5 draft". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  2. ^ Pleskoff, Bernie. "Brewers could have Rule 5 gem in lefty reliever Wang". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  3. ^ Haudricourt, Tom. "Brewers' Wei-Chung Wang hopes to jump from rookie ball to majors". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  4. ^ Gruman, Andrew (September 23, 2014). "Wang hopes 2014 experiences help him get back to majors in future". Fox Sports. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  5. ^ Haudricourt, Tom (October 21, 2014). "Brewers See Wang As A Starter". Baseball America. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  6. ^ "Lance Lynn strikes out 11 as Cardinals snap Brewers' 9-game win streak". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 14, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  7. ^ Hadricourt, Tom (June 16, 2015). "Brewers had high hopes for Wei-Chung Wang". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  8. ^ McCalvy, Adam (June 16, 2015). "Brewers claim Dominguez off waivers". MLB.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  9. ^ Hadricourt, Tom (June 16, 2015). "Brewers claim Astros' Matt Dominguez off waivers". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Rosiak, Todd (July 30, 2017). "Notes: Brewers send Junior Guerra out, bring Wei-Chung Wang in". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  11. ^ Rosiak, Todd (January 26, 2018). "New Brewers free-agent acquisition Lorenzo Cain happy to be back where he started his career". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "Left-hander becomes 1st Taiwanese in S. Korean baseball". Yonhap News Agency. January 27, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "CPBL Stats on Twitter".
  14. ^ Rubin, Shayna (May 25, 2019). "A's update: Fernando Rodney is released by Oakland". Mercury News. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Shea, John (May 25, 2019). "A's Fernando Rodney designated for assignment; Wei-Chung Wang called up". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  16. ^ Ross, Ben (June 1, 2019). "Reliever Wei-Chung Wang grateful for latest MLB opportunity with A's". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Slusser, Susan (May 28, 2019). "Shohei Ohtani ends A's win streak with two-run single in 9th". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  18. ^ "Ohtani's two-run single in the ninth lifts Angels past A's". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 28, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  19. ^ Radcliffe, JR (July 5, 2019). "Wei-Chung Wang just got his first big-league win. He's come a long way since 'Wei-Chung Wang Wednesdays'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  20. ^ Slusser, Susan (August 29, 2019). "A's officially call up Sheldon Neuse; he's expected right about game time". San Francisco Chroncle. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  21. ^ Lockard, Mellissa (August 29, 2019). "Versatility, aggressiveness at the plate: What to expect from newest A's rookie Sheldon Neuse". The Athletic. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  22. ^ Guerriero, Justin (August 31, 2019). "Pirates claim left-handed reliever Wei-Chung Wang". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  23. ^ "Pirates claim LHP Wei-Chung Wang". MLB.com. August 31, 2019.
  24. ^ Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  25. ^ Yeh, Joseph (July 20, 2020). "Former MLB player Wang becomes No. 1 pick in Taiwan baseball draft". Central News Agency. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  26. ^ "Ex-MLB pitcher signs largest deal in CPBL history". Taipei Times. September 24, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  27. ^ MLB／王維中的棒球之路　哥哥影響深遠.
  28. ^ "進MLB 王維中最愛阿美族惜烙" (in Chinese). China Times. April 2, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
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