Kai-Wei Teng
{{Short description|Taiwanese baseball player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{family name hatnote|Teng|lang=Taiwanese}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Kai-Wei Teng
|image=Kai-Wei Teng pitching for the Minnesota Twins in 2018 spring training (1) (Cropped).jpg
|caption=Teng with the Minnesota Twins in 2018
|team=San Francisco Giants
|number=
|position=Pitcher
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1998|12|1}}
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = March 31
|debutyear = 2024
|debutteam = San Francisco Giants
|statyear = 2024 season
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 0–0
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 9.82
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 7
|teams =
- San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2024}})
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's baseball}}
{{MedalCountry | {{bb|TPE}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | Asian Baseball Championship}}
}}
Kai-Wei Teng ({{zh|t=鄧愷威|w=Teng4 Kai3-wei1}}; born December 1, 1998) is a Taiwanese professional baseball pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2024.
Early life and education
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.{{cite news|last=Luo|first=Chih-peng|title=MLB》追隨胡智為腳步挑戰大聯盟 鄧愷威夢想成真|url=https://sports.ltn.com.tw/news/breakingnews/2291166|work=Liberty Times|date=22 December 2017|access-date=18 April 2024|language=zh-tw}}
Career
=Minnesota Twins=
On October 20, 2017, the Minnesota Twins signed Teng for a $500,000 signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.com/minor-league-sports/more-than-a-translator-cedar-rapids-kernels-pitcher-kai-wei-teng-has-mentor-friend-in-jay/ |title=More than a translator: Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Kai-Wei Teng has mentor, friend in 'Jay' |publisher=The Gazette |date= |accessdate=January 30, 2023}} 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 {{fraction|42|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Kai-Wei Teng - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/kai-wei-teng/sa3007229/stats?position=P|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=fangraphs.com}}
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.{{cite web|last=Pantini |first=Andrew |url=https://www.milb.com/press-release/kai-wei-teng-named-midwest-league-pitcher-of-the-week-309107442 |title=Kai-Wei Teng named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week |publisher=MiLB.com |date=2019-07-15 |accessdate=2023-02-13}} In 9 games for Cedar Rapids, Teng logged a 4–0 record and 1.60 ERA.
=San Francisco Giants=
On July 31, 2019, the Twins traded Teng, Jaylin Davis, and Prelander Berroa to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Sam Dyson.{{cite web|last=Velle |first=La |url=https://www.startribune.com/twins-pick-up-giants-reliever-sam-dyson-at-trade-deadline/513453252/ |title=Twins pick up Giants reliever Sam Dyson at trade deadline |publisher=Startribune.com |date=August 1, 2019 |accessdate=January 30, 2023}} He made five starts for the Single–A Augusta GreenJackets, recording a 1.55 ERA with 39 strikeouts across {{fraction|39|2|3}} 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.{{cite web | last=Adler | first=David | title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled | website=MLB.com | date=2020-06-30 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled | access-date=2024-08-09}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-pitching-prospect-kai-wei-teng-suspended-10-games |title=Giants pitching prospect Kai-Wei Teng suspended for 10 games |work=NBC Sports Bay Area |date= June 2, 2021|accessdate=January 30, 2023}} In 21 starts for Eugene, Teng recorded a 4.33 ERA with 142 strikeouts in {{fraction|95|2|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|url=https://richmond.com/sports/professional/taiwanese-pitcher-feeling-at-home-with-flying-squirrels/article_8eb07398-2feb-546b-9953-b528b24d3dfa.html|title=Taiwanese pitcher feeling at home with Flying Squirrels|first=Joe|last=Dodson|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=June 10, 2022 |accessdate=January 30, 2023}} 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 {{fraction|136|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Kai-Wei Teng Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/98375/kai-wei-teng/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com}}
Teng began the 2023 season back with Double–A Richmond, starting 12 games and posting a 4.75 ERA with 68 strikeouts in {{fraction|47|1|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Giants' Kai-Wei Teng: Promoted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-kai-wei-teng-promoted-to-triple-a/|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=June 18, 2023}} On June 18, 2023, he was promoted to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats.{{Cite web|title=SF Giants promote Taiwanese pitching prospect to Triple-A Sacramento|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-prospects-promote-kai-wei-teng|access-date=June 26, 2023|website=si.com|date=June 18, 2023 |language=en}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Mayo |first1=Jonathan |title=Keep an eye on these prospects added to 40-man rosters |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/under-the-radar-prospects-added-to-40-man-rosters |access-date=March 31, 2024 |work=MLB.com |date=November 16, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Brisbee |first1=Grant |title=Giants 40-man roster: Why Kai-Wei Teng, Trevor McDonald and Erik Miller were added |url=https://theathletic.com/5064455/2023/11/14/giants-roster-kai-wei-teng-trevor-mcdonald-erik-miller/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |work=The Athletic |date=November 14, 2023}} He spent some time in major league spring training,{{cite news |last1=Webeck |first1=Evan |title=SF Giants spring training injury updates: 2 young pitchers sidelined before camp begins |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/02/14/sf-giants-spring-training-injury-updates-2-young-pitchers-sidelined-before-camp-begins/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |work=Mercury News |date=February 14, 2024}} and was optioned to Triple–A Sacramento to begin the 2024 season.{{cite news |title=Monday's Transactions |url=https://apnews.com/sports/sports-transactions-illinois-185e8899f7a674df55e8216a82e676c5 |access-date=March 31, 2024 |work=Associated Press News |date=March 11, 2024}} Republished by the [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/national/story/2024-03-11/mondays-transactions San Diego Union-Tribune] On March 29, 2024, Teng was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite news |title=Taiwan's Teng Kai-wei gets call from the Giants |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2024/03/31/2003815726 |access-date=March 31, 2024 |work=Taipei Times |date=March 31, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Hung-han |last2=Ko |first2=Lin |title=BASEBALL/Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei called up by MLB's Giants |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202403300005 |access-date=March 31, 2024 |agency=Central News Agency |date=March 30, 2024}} Teng made his major league debut in relief of Daulton Jefferies, pitching three innings while yielding four hits and three runs.{{cite news |title=Giants eager to see Snell boost rotation |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/blake-snell-making-progress-toward-giants-debut |last1=Guardado |first1=Maria |access-date=March 31, 2024 |work=MLB.com |date=March 31, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Hans |last2=Chao |first2=Yen-hsiang |title=BASEBALL/Teng Kai-wei receives gift from idol Yu Darvish after MLB debut |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202404010007 |access-date=3 April 2024 |agency=Central News Agency |date=1 April 2024}} Republished as: {{cite news |title=Taiwanese pitcher Teng makes debut |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2024/04/02/2003815822 |access-date=3 April 2024 |work=Taipei Times |date=2 April 2024}} In 4 games during his rookie campaign, he struggled to a 9.82 ERA with 7 strikeouts over 11 innings of work. Teng was designated for assignment by San Francisco on November 19.{{Cite web|title=Giants Designate Kai-Wei Teng For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/giants-designate-kai-wei-teng-for-assignment.html|access-date=November 21, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 19, 2024 }} On November 22, the Giants non–tendered Teng, making him a free agent.{{cite web|last=Guardado|first=Maria|title=Yaz in the fold for 2025; SF non-tenders two|url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/mike-yastrzemski-agrees-to-2025-contract|work=San MLB.com|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=November 25, 2024}}
On November 29, 2024, Teng re–signed with the Giants organization on a minor league contract.{{cite web | title=Transactions | website=MiLB.com | date=2024-11-29 | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-11-29 | access-date=2025-02-15}}
International career
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3799987 |title=Taiwan beats Japan 5-4 in baseball in Asian Baseball Championship finals |publisher=Taiwan News |date=October 21, 2019 |accessdate=January 30, 2023}} He is included on their roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.{{cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202301130015 |title=Former MLB infielder Yu Chang listed on Taiwan WBC team roster |website=Focustaiwan.tw |date= January 13, 2023|accessdate=January 30, 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=678906|espn=42242|br=t/tengka01|fangraphs=24282|brm=teng--000kai|retro=T/Ptengk001}}
{{Chinese Taipei roster 2023 World Baseball Classic}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Teng, Kaiwei}}
Category:Baseball players from Taichung
Category:Major League Baseball players from Taiwan
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:San Francisco Giants players
Category:Gulf Coast Twins players
Category:Cedar Rapids Kernels players
Category:Augusta GreenJackets players
Category:Eugene Emeralds players
Category:Richmond Flying Squirrels players
Category:Sacramento River Cats players
Category:2023 World Baseball Classic players
Category:Taiwanese expatriate baseball players in the United States