Tsung-Che Cheng Bio
Tsung-Che Cheng (Chinese: 鄭宗哲; pinyin: Zhèng Zōngzhé; born July 26, 2001) is a Taiwanese professional baseball infielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates after signing with the club as an international free agent in 2019 and making his major league debut in 2025. A versatile defender, Cheng has spent time at second base, third base, and shortstop throughout his career, and he has represented Chinese Taipei in international competition, including the World Baseball Classic and the Asian Games.
Early Life and Background
Tsung-Che Cheng was raised in Jiuru, Pingtung County, Taiwan, the younger of two sons in his family. His parents supported his early interest in sports, with his father working as a truck driver and his mother keeping the home. Cheng began playing baseball around the age of five, a common starting age for young players in Taiwan’s deep baseball culture.
Inspired by the success of fellow Taiwanese pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, Cheng originally intended to become a pitcher himself. He developed his game at Pu-Men High School, a program that has produced multiple professional players. It was during these school years that Cheng refined his defensive versatility, moving between infield positions, and attracted the attention of Major League Baseball scouts.
Path to Professional Baseball
Cheng’s path to professional baseball accelerated in 2019, when he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent on July 2. The deal came with a signing bonus of $380,000 and represented a significant investment by the Pirates in the young Taiwanese infielder. Shortly after signing, Cheng was selected to compete in the 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cup, an early opportunity to test himself against top international talent.
His professional start was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which wiped out the 2020 minor league season. When play resumed in 2021, Cheng began his stateside career in the Florida Complex League, playing second base, third base, and shortstop. That offseason, he joined the Caimanes de Barranquilla of the Colombian Winter League and won the 2022 Caribbean Series, an early championship experience at the senior international level.
Tsung-Che Cheng Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Cheng’s professional career officially began with the Florida Complex League Pirates in 2021, after the canceled 2020 season. The young infielder spent the year adjusting to professional pitching while splitting time across multiple defensive positions. His athleticism and willingness to play anywhere on the dirt quickly became defining traits.
After the FCL season, Cheng played winter ball with the Caimanes de Barranquilla and helped the club capture the 2022 Caribbean Series title. The experience of winning a senior international championship, alongside established veterans, gave Cheng valuable exposure to high-level competition and postseason baseball before he had even played a full minor league season.
Minor League Development (2022–2024)
Cheng spent the 2022 Minor League Baseball season with the Bradenton Marauders, where he played shortstop more frequently. He appeared in 104 games and hit .270 with a .376 on-base percentage and a .794 on-base plus slugging percentage, scoring 79 runs. Of his 38 extra-base hits, seven were triples, leading the Florida State League in that category and in runs scored. He also ranked second in on-base percentage, fourth in batting average, and fifth in OPS in the league. Cheng’s 33 stolen bases in 39 attempts led all minor leaguers within the Pirates organization. That offseason, he was assigned to the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.
Cheng opened 2023 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers and was ranked 30th on MLB Pipeline’s list of top Pirates prospects at the start of the season. He made his Double-A debut with the Altoona Curve on June 23, set a new career high in triples, and climbed to 22nd on MLB Pipeline’s Pirates list by year’s end. On November 14, 2023, Pittsburgh added Cheng to its 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and he entered 2024 as the club’s 17th-best prospect. After beginning the year with Double-A Altoona, where he slashed .218/.320/.341 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI, and 16 stolen bases across 126 appearances, Cheng was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on September 17, 2024.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2025)
Cheng was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2025 season. On April 7, 2025, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to infielder Jared Triolo. Two days later, on April 9, Cheng made his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the 18th MLB player from Taiwan. The milestone marked the realization of a long-held dream that began on the sandlots of Jiuru.
During his rookie campaign with Pittsburgh, Cheng made three appearances and went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. The Pirates designated him for assignment on December 19, beginning a whirlwind waiver period that would define his winter.
Boston Red Sox Era (2026–Present)
After being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, Cheng was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on January 8, 2026, only to be designated for assignment again on January 12. The New York Mets then claimed him on January 16, before designating him on January 21, and the Washington Nationals claimed him on January 28. Following the acquisition of George Soriano, the Nationals designated Cheng for assignment, and on February 6, he was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox. He was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox to begin the regular season, where he hit for the first cycle in Worcester Red Sox history on April 10.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cheng is valued for his defensive versatility, with experience at second base, third base, and shortstop that allows managers to move him around the infield. On offense, he has shown an advanced feel for the strike zone, strong on-base skills, and aggressive baserunning, evidenced by his 33 stolen bases in 2022 and his baserunning impact in the World Baseball Classic.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cheng’s signature moments include winning the 2022 Caribbean Series with the Caimanes de Barranquilla, leading the Florida State League in triples and runs scored during the 2022 minor league season, becoming the 18th MLB player from Taiwan with his debut on April 9, 2025, and hitting the first cycle in Worcester Red Sox history on April 10, 2026.
Tsung-Che Cheng Career Wins and Achievements
Across his career, Tsung-Che Cheng has collected a Caribbean Series championship, a silver medal at the Asian Games, and numerous minor league statistical honors. His international résumé also includes appearances in the U-18 Baseball World Cup, the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
International and Minor League Highlights
Shortly after signing with Pittsburgh, Cheng represented Chinese Taipei at the 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cup. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he batted .333 (5-for-15) as a leadoff hitter and drove in three runs. Later that year, he appeared in the postponed 2022 Asian Games, batting .318/.455/.348 across 22 at-bats and winning a silver medal with Taiwan. In the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Cheng and teammate Stuart Fairchild each stole three bases to set a single-game Taiwanese national team record of eight steals, and Cheng finished the tournament leading all players with 4 stolen bases.
Other Performances
Beyond his stateside minor league play, Cheng gained experience in two prominent winter leagues, helping the Caimanes de Barranquilla win the 2022 Caribbean Series and playing for the Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.
Tsung-Che Cheng Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Cheng was raised in Jiuru, Pingtung County, Taiwan, the younger of two sons in his family. His parents supported his early interest in baseball, with his father working as a truck driver and his mother keeping the home. The values instilled during his upbringing in Pingtung County helped shape the work ethic that carried him through the minor leagues.
Spouse and Personal Details
Cheng is married to his wife, Irene. The couple met in elementary school in Taiwan and began dating after Cheng finished high school. Cheng is also known by the nickname “Z,” because the pinyin of his three Chinese characters, Zhèng Zōng Zhé, all start with the letter Z, even though the romanization of his given name uses the Wade-Giles system.
2025 Season Performance
Tsung-Che Cheng opened 2025 with Triple-A Indianapolis before receiving his first major league call-up on April 7. Two days later, he debuted against the St. Louis Cardinals and became the 18th MLB player from Taiwan, a milestone that drew attention from fans in both Pittsburgh and his home country.
His first MLB stint was brief, as he appeared in three games and went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts before the Pirates designated him for assignment on December 19. The experience nonetheless served as his first sustained exposure to big league pitching and daily major league routines.
Looking ahead, Cheng’s 2025 campaign laid the groundwork for his next chapter. His defensive versatility and baserunning instincts remain his calling cards, and his international play, including the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic, gives him additional opportunities to refine his game against elite competition.
