“Proud of myself”: Pirates’ new MLB shortstop Tsung Che Cheng talks about upcoming journey

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 9, 2025, 19:50 IST

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Tsung Che Cheng takes up a new opportunity in the MLB as shortstop with the Pittsburgh Pirates, He talks about how he felt, Team manager Derek Shelton expresses confidence in Tsung Che Cheng

“Proud of myself”: Pirates’ new MLB shortstop Tsung Che Cheng talks about upcoming journey

Pirates’ new MLB shortstop Tsung Che Cheng talks about upcoming journey (Image Source: Instagram)

Infielder Tsung Che Cheng, who comes from the Triple-A team of the Indianapolis, will now be making his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have decided to allow a young player.

Who is Pittsburgh Pirates’ new shortstop Tsung Che Cheng?

The decision to call Tsung Che Cheng to the Pittsburgh Pirates was taken after Pirates’ infielder Jared Triolo was injured and was placed on the injured list for at least 10 days. He suffered an injury around his lower back.

Tsung Che Cheng has an interesting story. He is a native of Pingtung County in Taiwan. Cheng joined the Pittsburgh Pirates right after high school. Back then, he joined as an international free agent in 2019. He got a $380,000 signing bonus.

The Taiwanese star, Cheng, has worked really hard with the minor leagues.

Tsung Che Cheng reacts after his joining

Reacting to the beautiful start in the MLB world with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tsung Che Cheng explained that it was very beautiful. He said:
“It’s very beautiful and I'm proud of myself. I never imagined that one day I could do batting practice at such a beautiful stadium.”
Cheng said:
“For now I just want to enjoy baseball, enjoy playing baseball and try to keep improving every day, every single day.”
Interestingly, the day Cheng got information about his joining in the MLB, he celebrated his wife Irene's birthday. He said:
“Yes, it was actually her birthday yesterday, So it feels like it’s kind of the best birthday gift for her.”

Pirates’ manager Derek Shelton expresses confidence in Tsung Che Cheng

Pittsburgh Pirates' manager Derek Shelton too has expressed his faith in Tsung Che Cheng's game and he will be considered as a backup at shortstop now.
Shelton said:
“Just defensively, how dynamic he is, I think we saw the full scope of it in Spring Training, Regardless if he played second or short, he can really defend. He’s played some third, a little bit in the Minor Leagues. With losing Triolo, we needed someone who could play short as the backup. We felt he fit us the best.”
Also Read: Pittsburgh Pirates To Restore MLB Legend Roberto Clemente’s No. 21 Signboard After Family Expresses Unhappiness

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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