TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have reassigned Taiwanese infielder Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) to their minor league system, ending his brief 10-day tenure in the majors. The 23-year-old, who made history last Monday as just the 18th player from Taiwan to reach Major League Baseball (MLB), returns to the minors after achieving a career milestone that punctuated his five-year journey through American professional baseball.
Team officials made the roster move to accommodate the return of Jared Triolo from the injured list. Cheng's major league experience spanned three games across a variety of roles: starting at shortstop and batting ninth against the Saint Louis Cardinals last Wednesday, backing up at second base versus the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, and returning to the starting shortstop position for Sunday's contest.
The young infielder struggled at the plate during his brief major league opportunity, going hitless in seven at-bats despite solid defensive play. Cheng had initially caught the organization's attention with standout performances in spring training, which led to his promotion after just five games at the Triple-A level this season. The demotion offers Cheng regular playing time to continue developing his skills at the highest minor league level. ★