Yu Chang

Yu-Cheng Chang (Chinese: 張育成; pinyin: Zhāng Yùchéng;[lower-alpha 1] born 18 August 1995) is a Taiwanese professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians / Guardians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox. Chang made his MLB debut in 2019. He represented the Chinese Taipei national baseball team (Taiwan) in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

For other people with similar names, see Chang Yu.
The native form of this personal name is Chang Yu-Cheng. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Yu Chang
Chang with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022
Free agent
Infielder
Born: (1995-08-18) 18 August 1995
Taitung, Taiwan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
28 June, 2019, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.204
Home runs20
Runs batted in79
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

Minor leagues (2013–2019)

Chang signed with the Cleveland Indians in 2013 as an international free agent for a $500,000 signing bonus.[1] He made his professional debut in 2014 with the Arizona League Indians of the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he batted .346 with six home runs, 25 runs batted in (RBIs), and a .986 on-base plus slugging (OPS) in 42 games played. He spent the 2015 season with the Lake County Captains of the Single–A Midwest League, where he posted a .232 average with nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 105 games. In 2016, while playing for the Lynchburg Hillcats of the High–A Carolina League, Chang was named an all-star.[2] He was reported to be involved in a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy during the 2016 season; however, the trade fell apart after Lucroy would not waive his no-trade clause.[3]

Chang with the Columbus Clippers in 2018

Chang finished the 2016 season with a .259 batting average with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs in 109 games.[4] In 2017, Chang played for the Akron RubberDucks of the Double–A Eastern League, where he hit .220, along with a .461 slugging percentage, with a career-high 24 home runs and 66 RBIs in 126 games.[4] On November 20, 2017, the Indians added Chang to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[5]

MLB.com ranked Chang as Cleveland's sixth-best prospect going into the 2018 season.[6] He spent the 2018 season with the Columbus Clippers of the Triple–A International League, batting .256 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs in 127 games.[4] He returned to Columbus to begin the 2019 season.[7]

Major leagues (2019–2022)

On 28 June 2019, the Indians promoted Chang to the major leagues.[8] He debuted that night against the Baltimore Orioles, starting at third base.[9] On 25 August, Chang hit his first career hit and triple against the Kansas City Royals, against starter Eric Skoglund in the third inning and reliever Scott Barlow in the seventh inning. On 9 September, he hit his first major league home run, a three-run homer, against Los Angeles Angels reliever Justin Anderson. Overall with the 2019 Cleveland Indians, Chang batted .178 with one home run and six RBIs in 28 games.[10]

Chang in 2021

Chang played in 10 games during the shortened 2020 season, batting .182 with no home runs and one RBI.[10] Chang started at first base for Cleveland on Opening Day in 2021.[11] He hit his first home run of the season on 5 June, a three-run shot off Baltimore Orioles reliever Adam Plutko. Chang finished the 2021 season with nine home runs and 39 RBIs while batting .228 over 89 games.[10]

Chang appeared in four games for Cleveland during the 2022 season; he was 0-for-10 at the plate while striking out seven times.[10] He was designated for assignment on 26 May 2022.[12]

Pittsburgh Pirates (2022)

On 30 May 2022, the Guardians traded Chang to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.[13] In 18 games with the Pirates, he batted .167 with one home run and two RBIs while appearing defensively at first base and second base.[10] He was designated for assignment on 30 June.[14]

Tampa Bay Rays (2022)

On 5 July 2022, the Tampa Bay Rays claimed Chang off waivers from the Pirates.[15] He was promoted to the Rays' major-league roster on 8 July. In 36 games with the Rays, he batted .260 with three home runs and 12 RBIs, while appearing at every infield position and also pitching two innings.[10] On 9 September, Chang was designated for assignment.[16]

Boston Red Sox (2022–2023)

On 12 September 2022, the Boston Red Sox claimed Chang off waivers from the Rays.[17] He was added to Boston's major-league roster two days later.[18] In 11 games with the Red Sox, he batted .150 (3-for-20) with one RBI, and made defensive appearances at first base, second base, and shortstop.[10] Overall during the 2022 season, Chang appeared in 51 MLB games for four different teams, batting .222 with three home runs and 13 RBIs.[10] On 18 November, Chang was non-tendered by the Red Sox and became a free agent.[19] On October 13, Chang elected free agency.

The Red Sox re-signed Chang to a one-year, major league contract on 16 February 2023.[20] He made the Red Sox Opening Day roster.[21] In April, he was briefly on paternity leave and missed one game for the birth of a daughter.[22] On 25 April, he was placed on the injured list due to a hamate bone fracture in his left hand.[23] After suffering a setback in his rehab, Chang was transferred to the 60-day injured list on 22 June.[24] He was activated from the injured list on 7 July.[25] In 39 games, he hit .162/.200/.352 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. On 8 August, Chang was designated for assignment by Boston after Trevor Story was activated from the injured list.[26] On 11 August, it was announced that Chang accepted an outright assignment to Boston's Triple-A affiliate, the Worcester Red Sox.[27] He elected free agency following the season on 13 October.[28]

International career

Chang was selected to the Chinese Taipei national baseball team (Taiwan) roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[29] He initially declined to play for the national team, preferring to prepare for the upcoming MLB season. The decision garnered widespread backlash from Taiwanese fans, who labelled Chang a "military deserter"; he previously had been exempted from compulsory military service in exchange for representing Taiwan in the 2019 Asian Baseball Championship and other international competitions. Chang reversed his decision, pledging to play for Taiwan "if selected."[30]

At the 2023 tournament, Chang emerged as the breakout player on the Chinese Taipei roster. In a nod to the controversy surrounding his military exemption, he became known for saluting after reaching base; fans nicknamed him "the Minister of Defense."[31] Despite his team failing to reach the quarterfinals, Chang was named the most valuable player of Pool A after batting .438 (7-for-16) with two home runs and eight RBIs in four games.[32][33] Chang was ultimately selected for the 2023 All-World Baseball Classic Team as first baseman, making him the first Taiwanese (Chinese Taipei) player to be on the All-World Baseball Classic Team.[34][35]

Personal life

Chang is from the Amis people, an Indigenous Austronesian ethnic group in Taiwan. He and his wife, Ling, have a son and a daughter.[36]

See also

Notes
  1. In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhāng.

References
  1. Warsinskey, Tim (1 May 2015). "Sizing up Captains shortstop Yu-Cheng Chang: Cleveland Indians Class A Report". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  2. Robertson, Mark D. "Hillcats' All-Star cast shines during trip to San Diego". Newsadvance.com. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. Smith, Daren (12 August 2016). "Riding 42-game hitting streak, Indians prospect Francisco Mejia involved in rumored Milwaukee Brewers Jonathan Lucroy trade". Milb.com. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  4. "Yu Chang Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  5. "Cleveland Indians add four to 40-man roster; claim Refsnyder; DFA Crockett, Baker". cleveland.com. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  6. "Tribe's 2018 Top 30 Prospects list is 100% homegrown". MLB.com. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  7. "Columbus Clippers Announce 2019 Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  8. Hoynes, Paul (28 June 2019). "Cleveland Indians recall Yu Chang, put Jose Ramirez on paternity list, activate Mike Clevinger". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  9. "Sisco, Orioles rough up Clevinger in 13–0 rout of Indians". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  10. "Yu Chang Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  11. "Cleveland Indians to start Jordan Luplow, Yu Chang in Opening Day lineup". beaconjournal.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  12. "Cleveland Guardians trade Yu Chang to Pittsburgh Pirates for cash". 30 May 2022.
  13. "Pirates acquire infielder Chang from Guardians". 30 May 2022.
  14. "Pirates Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Pittsburgh Pirates. June 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  15. "Rays Claim Yu Chang, Transfer Brandon Lowe To 60-Day IL". mlbtraderumors. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  16. "Rays Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Tampa Bay Rays. September 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  17. Leger, Justin (12 September 2022). "Red Sox claim infielder off waivers from Rays". NBC Sports Boston. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  18. "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  19. Cotillo, Chris (18 November 2022). "Red Sox non-tender Franchy Cordero, Yu Chang; both are free agents". masslive.com. Retrieved 18 November 2022 – via MSN.com.
  20. "Red Sox agree to one-year contract with infielder Yu Chang". MLB.com. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  21. Cotillo, Chris (27 March 2023). "Red Sox roster: Bobby Dalbec optioned to Triple-A, Yu Chang makes team as utility man". masslive.com.
  22. Campbell, Brendan (20 April 2023). "Red Sox reinstate Yu Chang from paternity list, option Enmanuel Valdez to Triple-A Worcester". bloggingtheredsox.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  23. "Red Sox's Yu Chang could miss 6 weeks with fracture in hand". ESPN.com. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  24. "Red Sox's Yu Chang: Moved to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  25. Stiefel, Keagan. "Red Sox Shuffle Roster To Activate Yu Chang, James Paxton". NESN. New England Sports Network. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  26. "Red Sox Designate Veteran For Assignment To Create Room For Trevor Story's Return". si.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  27. Cotillo, Chris (11 August 2023). "Red Sox roster: Yu Chang clears waivers, accepts assignment to WooSox". masslive.com. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  28. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-10-13
  29. Yang, Chi-fang; Chao, Yen-hsiang (13 January 2023). "Former MLB infielder Yu Chang listed on Taiwan WBC team roster". Central News Agency. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  30. Joseph Yeh (13 March 2023). "WBC/From attempted no-show to Taiwan hero: Yu Chang's WBC redemption". Focus Taiwan.
  31. 陳彥翰 Chen Yen-Han [@chen_yenhan] (10 March 2023). "If you watch MLB, may know who Yu Chang is. Currently he's playing for the Taiwan national team. He salutes after reaching base because initially, he declined to play for Taiwan. And then he was reminded that he signed a deal to play in exchange for military service exemption" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. Smith, Christopher (12 March 2023). "Red Sox player named WBC Pool A MVP with 2 homers, 2 doubles, .438 average". masslive. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  33. Yeh, Joseph (13 March 2023). "WBC/Taiwanese slugger named WBC Pool A MVP". Central News Agency. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  34. "2023 World Baseball Classic Most Valuable Player and All-Tournament Team announced". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  35. 羅, 志朋 (23 March 2023). "張育成獲經典賽最佳一壘手". 自由體育. The Liberty Times. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  36. Noga, Joe (13 April 2021). "Yu Chang receives anti-Asian hate messages on social media following Cleveland Indians loss". Plain Dealer. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
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