| Yu Chang | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Chang with theCleveland Guardians in 2022 | |
| Fubon Guardians – No. 99 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: (1995-08-18)August 18, 1995 (age 30) Taitung,Taiwan | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: June 28, 2019, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| CPBL: July 12, 2024, for the Fubon Guardians | |
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |
| Batting average | .204 |
| Home runs | 20 |
| Runs batted in | 79 |
| CPBL statistics (through April 13, 2025) | |
| Batting average | .257 |
| Home runs | 12 |
| Runs batted in | 35 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Yu-Cheng Chang (Chinese:張育成;pinyin:Zhāng Yùchéng;[a] born August 18, 1995) is a Taiwanese professionalbaseballinfielder for theFubon Guardians of theChinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theCleveland Indians / Guardians,Pittsburgh Pirates,Tampa Bay Rays, andBoston Red Sox. Chang made his MLB debut in 2019. He represented theChinese Taipei national baseball team (Taiwan) in the2023 World Baseball Classic.
Chang was born inDonghe,Taitung County, and attended Taiyuan Elementary School and Taiyuan Junior High School.[1] He played baseball at the Taichung Senior Agricultural and Vocational High School and was a senior student when he signed with theCleveland Indians.[2]
Chang signed with theCleveland Indians in 2013 as an internationalfree agent for a $500,000signing bonus.[3] He made his professional debut in 2014 with theArizona League Indians of theRookie-levelArizona League, where hebatted .346 with sixhome runs, 25runs batted in (RBIs), and a .986on-base plus slugging (OPS) in 42games played. He spent the 2015 season with theLake County Captains of theSingle–AMidwest League, where he posted a .232 average with nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 105 games. In 2016, while playing for theLynchburg Hillcats of theHigh–ACarolina League, Chang was named anall-star.[4] He was reported to be involved in a trade to theMilwaukee Brewers forJonathan Lucroy during the 2016 season; however, the trade fell apart after Lucroy would not waive his no-trade clause.[5]
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Chang finished the 2016 season with a .259batting average with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs in 109 games.[6] In 2017, Chang played for theAkron RubberDucks of theDouble–AEastern League, where he hit .220, along with a .461slugging percentage, with a career-high 24 home runs and 66 RBIs in 126 games.[6] On November 20, 2017, the Indians added Chang to their40-man roster to protect him from theRule 5 draft.[7]
MLB.com ranked Chang as Cleveland's sixth-bestprospect going into the 2018 season.[8] He spent the 2018 season with theColumbus Clippers of theTriple–AInternational League, batting .256 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs in 127 games.[6] He returned to Columbus to begin the 2019 season.[9]
On 28 June 2019, the Indians promoted Chang to the major leagues.[10] He debuted that night against theBaltimore Orioles, starting at third base.[11] On 25 August, Chang hit his first career hit and triple against theKansas City Royals, against starterEric Skoglund in the third inning and relieverScott Barlow in the seventh inning. On 9 September, he hit his first major league home run, a three-run homer, againstLos Angeles Angels relieverJustin Anderson. Overall with the2019 Cleveland Indians, Chang batted .178 with one home run and six RBIs in 28 games.[12]
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Chang played in 10 games during the shortened2020 season, batting .182 with no home runs and one RBI.[12] Chang started at first base for Cleveland onOpening Day in 2021.[13] He hit his first home run of the season on 5 June, a three-run shot offBaltimore Orioles relieverAdam Plutko. On 3 October, Chang hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning off ofMike Foltynewicz in the team's final game of the season, Chang's last home run with Cleveland.[14] Chang finished the2021 season with nine home runs and 39 RBIs while batting .228 over 89 games.[12]
Chang appeared in four games for Cleveland during the 2022 season; he was 0-for-10 at the plate whilestriking out seven times.[12] He wasdesignated for assignment on 26 May 2022.[15]
On 30 May 2022, the Guardians traded Chang to thePittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.[16] 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.[12] He was designated for assignment on 30 June.[17]
On 5 July 2022, theTampa Bay Rays claimed Chang off waivers from the Pirates.[18] 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.[12] On 9 September, Chang was designated for assignment.[19]
On 12 September 2022, theBoston Red Sox claimed Chang off waivers from the Rays.[20] He was added to Boston's major-league roster two days later.[21] 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.[12] Overall during the 2022 season, Chang appeared in 51 MLB games for four different teams, batting .222 with three home runs and 13 RBIs.[12] On 18 November, Chang wasnon-tendered by the Red Sox and became a free agent.[22] On October 13, Chang elected free agency.
The Red Sox re-signed Chang to a one-year, major league contract on 16 February 2023.[23] He made the Red Sox Opening Day roster.[24] In April, he was briefly on paternity leave and missed one game for the birth of a daughter.[25] On 25 April, he was placed on the injured list due to ahamate bone fracture in his left hand.[26] After suffering a setback in his rehab, Chang was transferred to the 60-day injured list on 22 June.[27] He was activated from the injured list on 7 July.[28] In 39 games, he hit .162/.200/.352 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. On 8 August, Chang wasdesignated for assignment by Boston afterTrevor Story was activated from the injured list.[29] On 11 August, it was announced that Chang accepted an outright assignment to Boston'sTriple-A affiliate, theWorcester Red Sox.[30] He elected free agency following the season on 13 October.[31]
On 20 February 2024, Chang signed a minor league contract with the Rays.[32][33] On 1 March, it was announced that Chang would miss six–to–eight weeks with an oblique strain, ending his chances of making the Opening Day roster.[34] In 14 games for the Triple–ADurham Bulls, he batted .293/.431/.512 with two home runs, seven RBI, and two stolen bases. On 18 June, Chang announced that he would be leaving the Rays organization and returning to Taiwan to enter the 2024CPBL draft.[35]
On 28 June 2024, Chang was selected by theFubon Guardians with the first overall pick of the 2024CPBL mid–season draft.[36] Chang and the Guardians agreed to the largest contract in league history on 11 July, worthNT$92.5 million (US$2.84 million at the time) over three and a half years.[37]
Chang appeared in 47 games in 2024, with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 10 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 29 runs scored. He posted a .270 batting average, a .445 on-base percentage, and a .540 slugging percentage, while striking out 40 times and stealing 4 bases.[38] He suffered a left hand injury during the season.[39]
Chang was selected to theChinese Taipei national baseball team (Taiwan) roster for the2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).[40] 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 the2019 Asian Baseball Championship and other international competitions. Chang reversed his decision, pledging to play for Taiwan "if selected."[41]
At the 2023 tournament, Chang emerged as the breakout player for the team. 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."[42] Despite his team failing to reach the quarterfinals, Chang was named themost valuable player ofPool A after batting .438 (7-for-16) with two home runs and eight RBIs in four games.[43][44] Chang was ultimately selected for the 2023 All-WBC Team as first baseman, making him the first Taiwanese player receive such an award.[45][46]
Chang played for Chinese Taipei in the 2025WBC Qualifiers. He delivered a strong performance, hitting a home run in the opening game, batting .389, and hitting 4 doubles, most in the qualifiers as his team qualified for the2026 WBC.[47][48]
Chang is from theAmis people, an IndigenousAustronesian ethnic group inTaiwan. He and his wife have two children.[49] Chang's brotherChang Jin-de [zh] is also a professional baseball player.[36]
