| Wei-Chung Wang | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wang pitching for theOakland Athletics in2019 | |
| Wei Chuan Dragons – No. 16 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1992-04-25)April 25, 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 record | 3–0 |
| Earned run average | 6.52 |
| Strikeouts | 33 |
| KBO statistics (through 2018 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 7–10 |
| Earned run average | 4.26 |
| Strikeouts | 108 |
| CPBL statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 14–23 |
| Earned run average | 3.38 |
| Strikeouts | 265 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
CPBL
| |
Wei-Chung Wang (Chinese:王維中, born 25 April 1992) is a Taiwanese professionalbaseballpitcher for theWei Chuan Dragons of theChinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMilwaukee Brewers,Oakland Athletics, andPittsburgh Pirates, and in theKBO League for theNC Dinos.
Wang signed as an internationalfree agent with thePittsburgh Pirates in 2011. When the Pirates discovered that Wang requiredTommy John surgery, they voided the contract, and signed Wang to a new contract.[1]
.jpg)
The Brewers selected Wang from the Pirates in the 2013Rule 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' 2014Opening Day roster,[3] which he made.[4][5] Wang made his MLB debut on April 14, 2014 against theSt. Louis Cardinals pitching a scoreless inning, allowing one hit.[6]
During the 2015 season, Wang pitched for the Advanced-ABrevard 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 fromColorado Springs Sky Sox on July 30, 2017.[10] He was granted his release from theMilwaukee Brewers in order to pursue a playing opportunity in South Korea, and was released on January 26, 2018.[11]
Wang was the first Taiwanese baseball player to play in the South KoreanKBO League. He signed a one-year contract for $700,000 with theNC Dinos of theKBO League. The contract was announced by the Dinos on January 26.[12] He became a free agent following the 2018 season.
On February 1, 2019, Wang signed a minor league deal with theOakland Athletics that included an invitation tospring 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, tossing2+1⁄3 shutout innings in a 7–2 victory over theMinnesota 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 the Triple-ALas Vegas Aviators 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]
On August 31, 2019, Wang was claimed off waivers by thePittsburgh 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]
Wang was selected first overall by theWei Chuan Dragons in the 2020Chinese 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 theUni-President 7-Eleven Lions.
He is the younger brother of formerChicago Cubs minor league playerWang Yao-lin.[27] He is a member of theAmis people.[28]
